Rules of engagement will prevail in Phl-US maritime air patrol in Batanes, WPS

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the country will strictly follow the rules of the engagement in its ongoing joint maritime air patrol or MARPAT with the United States within the vicinity of Batanes and along areas in the West Philippine Sea. 

AFP spokesperson, Col. Medel Aguilar, said the patrol is part of the Philippines-US Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) which began on 21 November and runs until 23 November. 

"The objective is very clear naman, that is to promote rules-based international order, to maintain peace and stability in the region," Aguilar said in a radio interview on Wednesday. 

"[This activity], it's going to be within our maritime zone from north to south," he noted.

Batanes is the country's northernmost island closest to Taiwan. 

Taiwan is currently in conflict with China over the strategic islands in the Taiwan Strait. 

Also, Beijing has increased its assertiveness in the WPS by harassing and blocking Filipino vessels conducting maritime duties in the Philippine exclusive economic zone within the area. 

Asked what would the Philippines do if China interfered in the MCA of the two countries, Aguilar said the rules of engagement would prevail to suit better the country's objective of pushing diplomatic and peaceful resolutions on 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 stressed.

"But we cannot allow also na somebody will take advantage bec while we are going to the peaceful path," he added.

China has been warning the Philippines it will continue to enforce maritime actions over the Nansha Islands, and its adjacent waters—a vast claim that overlaps the Philippine waters.

Hence, Aguilar noted that no country is allowed to exert aggression against the Philippines for conducting legitimate maritime activities within its territorial waters in the WPS. 

"The objective for this specific mission is very clear, that is about the promotion of rules-based international order meaning we are following the international conventions, we are following the collision regulation so that we can prevent accidents at sea and the same time those unplanned encounters," said Aguilar. 

He emphasized that the Philippines is just performing an "obligation that is provided under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea" when it is conducting such an activity with the US. 

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

Aguilar said the maritime air patrol under MCA was included among the approved activities during the conclusion of the Philippines-US Mutual Defense Board-Security 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 stressed. 

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 in the following year, including the Balikatan exercises held annually.