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Philippines conducts marine patrols to check presence of Chinese research ships
MANILA (Reuters) – The Philippines on Monday deployed a coastguard vessel to carry out a two-week patrol mission in waters north and east of the country to intensify its maritime presence and check on Chinese research vessels that were spotted in Benham Rise. Benham Rise, which sits off the Philippines’ east coast, is a vast.....»»
Senator calls out loitering China vessels in Philippines Rise
Chinese vessels were caught “loitering” and doing research in Benham Rise, also called Philippine Rise, which is within the country’s exclusive economic zone, Sen. Francis Tolentino said yesterday......»»
EDCA sites repel external threats: Gibo
Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro Jr. allayed fears that the establishment of military bases under the Philippines-United States bilateral Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement or EDCA attracts external threats to the country’s national security. Teodoro said EDCA facilities in the country will further improve the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and will strengthen the Philippine defense posture amid China’s maneuvers after the Philippine government granted the US four additional EDCA sites, on top of the existing five facilities. While recognizing emerging challenges brought by rising tension in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea and the ongoing China-Taiwan dispute, Teodoro insisted that the Philippines must develop military bases throughout the perimeters of its archipelago “in order to secure our territory not only now but for future” internal and external threats. “That’s a very very good possibility that the EDCA-Taiwan nexus is being exploited as a cover for a lot of things. Partly, the real intention of occupying the West Philippine Sea but the whole SCS so I dispel that notion and these Philippine bases with EDCA facilities are for us purely for internal credible deterrent posture,” he said during a visit to Camp Melchor dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela on Tuesday. He added: “I really want to see the phase of development and I want also to show the partnership between the local government and the national government. Isabela is a strategic food basket and the welfare of the people here is really important to us and the welfare of the infrastructure here which we need to protect against the internal security threats, and against perhaps even subversion by foreign elements using internal security elements.” Teodoro likewise believes in the possibility that China is just exploiting the supposed connection of the EDCA sites and the Taiwan situation as justification for occupying and setting up seven permanent military around the Spratly Islands in the WPS. Meanwhile, Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III expressed hope that his province would really benefit from the establishment of EDCA facilities. “As long as it is used for what Sec. Teodoro said, for our security and for the benefit of our constituents here,” he said. Albano is hoping that Isabela’s unexplored natural resources would become beneficial to the people of the province, especially those living in the coastal areas. “If we want to explore our natural resources at Benham Rise, the best is we can have a base and we can have friends who can supply us with a little security and a little of their technology and equipment. They can also help our farmers there — with fishing, rescue, like during (super typhoon) ‘Egay’ where many people drowned,” he said. Responding to the local government units still contemplating the benefits of EDCA facilities, Teodoro said: “The LGUs are free to voice their concerns but this is a national security imperative. Of course, national interest must prevail and that goes for everybody but there are some who are passionate and who are really nationalistic that oppose these (moves).” “We respect their viewpoints and, however, they must enjoy the freedom of speech that we have unlike in other countries you can’t criticize any other position I’d rather hear anytime and fight for it,” he said. The post EDCA sites repel external threats: Gibo appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Gibo allays ‘notion’ that EDCA sites attract external threats; ‘such theory not ideal’
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. allayed the notion that the establishment of military bases under the Philippines-United States’ bilateral Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement is only attracting external threats to the country’s national security. Teodoro emphasized that the EDCA facilities in the country will further improve the capabilities of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and targeted to strengthen the Philippine defense posture. China has repeatedly expressed a dim view of the Philippines’ granting the US additional access to four military bases under EDCA, on top of the existing five facilities, at the height of maritime tensions on the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea and China-Taiwan ongoing dispute. Teodoro lamented that China’s theory is not ideal. “Ito ay propaganda. Okay EDCA sites, WPS. So lumalabas na talaga ang intensyon ng China na wala itong kinalaman sa Taiwan, nasa West Philippine Sea talaga. Yun ba ang sinasabi nila ngayon na ang EDCA site ay mag attract ng galaw ng China sa WPS? Ito ay propaganda lang po ng China ito,” he said. While recognizing the emerging challenges on WPS, Teodoro insisted that the Philippines must develop military bases throughout the perimeters of its archipelago “in order to secure our territory not only now but for the future” internal and external threats. Teodoro likewise believes in the possibility that China is just exploiting the supposed connection of the EDCA sites and the Taiwan situation as justification for occupying and setting up seven permanent militaries around the Spratly Islands in the WPS. “That’s a very very good possibility that—the EDCA-Taiwan Nexus is being exploited as a cover for a lot of things. Partly the real intention of occupying the West Philippine Sea but the whole SCS so I dispel that notion and this Philippine bases with EDCA facilities are for us purely for internal credible deterrent posture,” the defense chief said in a chance interview during his recent visit to Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu, Isabela, one of four identified new EDCA sites. Teodoro also said he really wanted to see the phase of development in the EDCA sites. “I want also to show the partnership between the local government and the national government. Isabela is a strategic food basket and the welfare of the people here is really important to us as the welfare of the infrastructures here which we need to protect against internal security threats and, against perhaps even subversion of foreign elements by using internal security elements,” he added. Isabela Governor Rodolfo Albano III expressed hope that his province would really benefit from the establishment of EDCA facilities. “As long as it is used for what Sec. Teodoro said, for our security and for the benefit of our constituents here,” he said. Through EDCA, Albano eyeing that Isabela’s unexplored natural resources would become very beneficial to the people of the province, especially those living in the coastal areas. “If we want to explore our natural resources sa Benham Rise, the best is we can have a base and we can have friends who can supply us with a little security and a little of their technology and equipment. They can also help our farmers there—sa fishing, rescue, tulad noong Egay sa mga nalunod na tao doon,” he said. Responding to those local government units that are still contemplating the benefits of EDCA facilities, Teodoro said: “The LGUs are free to voice their concerns but this is a national security imperative of course national interest must prevail and that goes for everybody, there are some who are passionate and who are really nationalistic that oppose this [moves].” “We respect their viewpoints and however they must enjoy the freedom of speech that we have unlike in other countries you can’t criticize any other position I’d rather be here anytime and fight for it,” he added. The post Gibo allays ‘notion’ that EDCA sites attract external threats; ‘such theory not ideal’ appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AFP conducts joint maritime patrol at Phl Rise
The Northern Luzon Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, through its through Joint Task Force Karagatan, conducted a joint maritime patrol at the Philippine Rise on Wednesday. The NoLCom’s Philippine Naval Forces said the patrolling is part of the AFP’s national objectives to secure and defend the country's maritime domain. The Joint Task Force Karagatan synchronized the deployment of BRP Condrado Yap (PS39), the Philippine Navy’s C-90 aircraft and the Philippine Air Force’s FA50 at the Philippine Rise. “This activity is part of a series of activities by Northern Luzon Command in celebration of the 125th Philippine Independence Day and the 6th commemoration of the Philippine Rise,” acting Public Affairs Officer of NoLCom Naval Forces, Lt. Zachary Sinsuan, told reporters on Wednesday. While Philippine aircraft flew overhead, Filipino sailors on board the Navy warships conducted the flag-raising ceremony in the country's waters. It was followed by a ceremonial send-off of BRP Conrado Yap (PS39) and BRP Waray (LC288), to patrol the maritime areas of NoLCoM's Joint Operational Area, which encompasses Bajo de Masinloc, the country's northernmost group of islands, and the Philippine Rise. “The Joint Maritime Activities are manifestations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines' resolve to defend territorial integrity,” Sinsuan said. Joint Task Force Karagatan Commander Commodore Francisco Tagamolila Jr. asserted the country’s sovereignty over its maritime domain. The three-million-hectare Philippine Rise was previously known as Benham Rise. Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Executive Order 25 on 16 May 2017, renaming Benham Rise to Philippine Rise, consolidating on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea ruling in favor of the Philippines' claim. The post AFP conducts joint maritime patrol at Phl Rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PCG bewails lack of patrol vessels
The Philippine Coast Guard on Tuesday admitted that vessels to man the country’s vast seas are not enough, that’s why substantial funding is needed from the government although Japan has been a valued partner in supplying their fleet, either by means of donation or loans. During his interview with the Daily Tribune’s digital show Straight Talk, PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said they are currently working on deals with the Japanese government to add more vessels. “We are working on additional patrol vessels. We only have three offshore patrol vessels that could last two weeks of patrol. We hope the Japanese government could provide more. Of course, if they have a military surplus, then we can be a recipient,” he said. “The JCG has been a valued partner of the PCG. In fact, they are the ones responsible for the PCG to acquire 10 MRRVs (multi-role response vessels) through JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), and for the acquisition of the two largest vessels of the PCG currently used for our operations. It is through the working of the Japanese government,” he added. Currently, the PCG has only two large offshore vessels, the 97 meters Japan-made BRP Melchora Aquino and BRP Teresa Magbanua which were acquired and commissioned last 2022. Both vessels are equipped to carry out a 15-day mission and can traverse through rough seas. Balilo said they are also eyeing to have three offshore patrol vessels from Japan via a loan, with very low interest. “The loan package is not bad. These are cutters,” he said. Not enough vessels He said the existing fleet number of the PCG cannot be commensurate with their mandate, which is to perform maritime search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, maritime safety, maritime environmental protection and maritime security. “It cannot be commensurate because we have limited capability if the vessel is concerned. At the moment, we have 26 vessels, some are old, and some are small. The three offshore vessels that can sustain a two-week patrol operation are not enough. Our mandate is not just to patrol the West Philippine Sea, but more,” he said. He said the PCG is also mandated to protect the Southern border of the country, which involves anti-smuggling, anti-narcotics, and human trafficking, putting their resources into action. “We need vessels to accomplish these goals. Aside from that, we also have to patrol the Eastern Seaboard, which includes the Benham Rise, and the Northern Luzon. We are just properly managing our resources, kung saan may problema, doon ide-deploy,” he said. The post PCG bewails lack of patrol vessels appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
House panel OKs bill protecting portion of Benham Rise
A House panel has approved a measure seeking to mandate the protection of a portion of the Philippine Rise following intrusion by a Chinese vessel earlier this year......»»
Navy eyes Cataduanes as base to guard Benham Rise
Military officials surveyed an island in Bagamanoc, Catanduanes, to determine if it could host a naval base that would guard the Philippine (Benham) Rise, the Navy said. The proposed forward operating base (FOB) on Panay Island would secure the exclusive economic zone in waters east of the country, as well as the extended continental shelf […] The post Navy eyes Cataduanes as base to guard Benham Rise appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Modern buoys to be installed in Philippine Rise on Wednesday
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu—The first three of 10 modern lighted ocean buoys from Valencia, Spain that were assembled in Cebu will be sent to the Philippine Rise, formerly known as the Benham Rise, on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. The buoys are currently kept at the Uni-Orient Pearl Venture Inc. shipyard in Consolacion town, northern Cebu and will […] The post Modern buoys to be installed in Philippine Rise on Wednesday appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Surveillance radar on Benham ok& rsquo;d
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza has welcomed Camp Aguinaldo’s plan to deploy a fixed surveillance radar to provide “optimal airspace monitoring” over Benham Rise (Philippine Rise)......»»