Joint patrols ‘perfectly legal,’ Teodoro says
He said the Philippines does not intend to go to war with China but remains adamant about defending its sovereign rights in the WPS.
Daily TribuneHe said the Philippines does not intend to go to war with China but remains adamant about defending its sovereign rights in the WPS.
Denmark's ambassador to the Philippines, Michael Skjold Mellbin, met with Defense chief Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to tackle the ongoing defense cooperation between the Philippines and Denmark. Photo courtesy of Department of National Defense.
The Philippines and the United States have discussed further increasing joint bilateral activities following the recent collisions involving China Coast Guard vessels and Manila's resupply boats in the waters off Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, Defense Secretary Gilberto "Gibo" Teodoro Jr. said Friday.
In a television interview, Teodoro said the government is considering the increase of the frequency of joint maritime military exercises with Washington.
Asked if joint patrols by the Philippines and the US should have been conducted after the recent collisions, Teodoro replied: "All these options are being calibrated by our respective staffs, and they will come up with the recommendations accordingly."
Teodoro said all other options are also being considered "so long as they are bound by international law and the interest of the Philippines.
Phl-US maritime patrols
Meanwhile, Teodoro said joint maritime patrols with the US during resupply missions in the WPS "could be an option for the country" following China's latest aggressive actions in the WPS.
He noted that joint patrols in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone are "perfectly legal" under international laws.
"In view of the majority of nations, it is just China's incredulous and illegal claim to most of the South China Sea that cuts against the grain of the Philippines' right to its claim," he said.
On the other hand, Teodoro does not believe the recent collisions by China with Philippine vessels would trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty between Manila and Washington.
"(That) would trigger the mutual defense treaty depending on the gravity of the call on this scale, and we are also very careful not to cause an event that will trigger our call for the mutual defense treaty," he said.
The defense chief said the Philippines does not intend to go to war with China but remains adamant about defending its sovereign rights in the WPS.
"We don't want a war with China, but we are resolute about defending our territory, and they should respect that, and if they are responsible at all — they should not provoke incidents that would cause us to have a further escalation," he said, noting that the Philippines is a small archipelago compared to China.
Teodoro said that if there was truth to China's earlier statements that they want peace and development, then "they should leave us alone and engage us in a different way."
Phl ready to talk to China
Teodoro noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs is always ready to talk to China and address the issues in the WPS.
"In my opinion, the talks should be further on certain principles," he said.
Citing three principles, Teodoro said talks between China and the Philippines should be based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS and other international laws.
"It should show good faith on the part of China… and they should be open, transparent, and public so that there can be no unintended or implied so-called whispered narratives that could be spun out of these talks," he said.
He added: "Naturally, there should be talks, but they should be based on fully well-grounded..that can be institutionalized and can stand the test of time and not be subjected to the quince or fancy of any administration, particularly in China."
China has insisted on its claim to the entire South China Sea that overlaps the WPS and the Philippines' supposed promise to remove the BRP Sierra Madre from Ayungin Shoal.
"What kind of talks do they want? If they want institutionalized talks that are fair, which are legal, acceptable and binding on us pursuant to our Constitution and pursuant to our sworn mandate to safeguard the interest of Filipinos now and for future generations, they have to have these three principles in mind by the end of our talks," he stressed.
Joint patrols with ASEAN nations
Teodoro also said the Philippines looks forward to joint patrols with other Association of Southeast Asian countries.
"We welcome joint patrols with other ASEAN countries," he said.
Teodoro said the prospect could be discussed on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Jakarta.
"We will exhort our counterparts in the other ASEAN countries to support our claims against further intrusions by China," he added.
