The Armed Forces of the Philippines assured that the rules of the engagement would be strictly followed in the ongoing Philippines-United States maritime air patrol or MARPAT.

AFP spokesperson Col. Medel Aguilar said the patrol near Batanes and over the West Philippine Sea is part of the Maritime Cooperative Activity between the AFP and the US Indo-Pacific Command that will run from 21 to 23 November.

"The objective is very clear, that is to promote rules-based international order, to maintain peace and stability in the region," Aguilar said in a radio interview on Wednesday, adding that the activity is within the country's maritime zone from north to south.

Batanes is the country's northernmost island and is closest to Taiwan. Taiwan is currently in conflict with China over the strategic islands in the Taiwan Strait.

Beijing has increased its assertiveness in the WPS by harassing and blocking Filipino vessels conducting maritime patrols in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.

Asked what the Philippines would do if China interfered with the MCA, Aguilar said the rules of engagement would prevail in line with the country's objective of pushing diplomatic and peaceful resolutions in the WPS conflict.

"These are speculations that we cannot answer right now, but we have rules of engagement to follow, and the mission is very clear — peace and stability — and that is our commitment," he said. "But we cannot also allow anybody to take advantage while we are following the peaceful path."

No country, he said, should exert aggression towards the Philippines for conducting legitimate maritime activities within its territorial waters in the WPS.

"We are following international conventions, we are following collision regulations so that we can prevent accidents at sea and, at the same time, those unplanned encounters," he added.

UN obligation

He said the Philippines is just performing an "obligation provided for under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" when it conducts such activities with the US.

"I think there is no reason for any other party to take this activity against us or the US because we are not breaking any law here. And if a party would take actions that will result in trouble, then that is their problem, and they should be blamed," the AFP spokesperson said.

Aguilar said the maritime air patrol under the MCA was among the approved activities during the conclusion of the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board meeting in Camp Aguinaldo last 14 September.

"Our objective is that this activity will be successful and peaceful, and we therefore expect all other parties to respect whatever activities we will conduct within our exclusive economic zone, in our maritime zone," he said.

The MDB-SEB is a framework for security and cooperation to provide an opportunity for the country and the US to exchange views on security concerns and plan the range of military activities that will be conducted the following year, including the Balikatan exercises held annually.

No escalation of tension

The maritime patrols between the Philippines and the US are not meant to escalate tensions in the WPS, Aguilar reiterated.

He said all actions conducted by the AFP with its allied counterparts are legal and in accordance with the UNCLOS, the 1972 Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, and the  Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea.

"It is not meant to escalate the tension, and all our actions and intentions are in accordance with international laws and conventions," he said.

"It is a show of our firm resolve to assert our sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and commitment to uphold such conventions that promote peaceful resolution of maritime conflicts," he said.

Meanwhile, at least two Philippine Air Force FA-50PH aircrafts participated in the ongoing MARPAT.

PAF spokesperson, Col. Consuelo Castillo, said the activity aims to enhance regional security in cooperation with long-time allies.

The MCA will be participated in by the Philippine Navy and US Navy, while other PAF air assets will also take part.

"The PAF remains committed to ensuring the readiness of its air assets in support of the AFP's efforts to protect our national territory and maritime interests as well as maintain peace and security in the region," Castillo said.