Phl military to China: No one dictates our defense
A China Coast Guard ship maneuvers past a Philippine fishing boat during the distribution of fuel and food to fishers by the civilian-led mission Atin Ito (This Is Ours) Coalition, in the disputed South China Sea on 16 May. A Philippine boat convoy bearing supplies for Filipino fishers said they were headed back to port 16 May ditching plans to sail to a Beijing-held reef off the Southeast Asian country after one of their boats was ‘constantly shadowed’ by a Chinese vessel.
Ted ALJIBE/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday emphasized that, as a sovereign nation, the Philippines reserves the sole right to determine how it defends its territory and chooses its allies, free from any foreign influence.
The AFP’s statement was a direct response to China’s recent remarks accusing the Philippines of causing "disturbances" by allowing joint missions over the disputed West Philippine Sea (WPS).
“To be clear: the Philippines is a sovereign state. No foreign power can dictate how we defend our home or with whom we stand in solidarity,” AFP spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla told reporters via a Viber message.
China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, remains in a growingly tense standoff with the Philippines, as both nations assert their respective sovereignty claims over the contested waters.
Padilla maintained that the AFP is simply exercising its constitutional mandate to protect the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its maritime domain.
“The conduct of joint exercises and maritime domain awareness operations within our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone is not a provocation — it is preparedness,” she further stressed.
She underscored that the country’s actions are “deliberate, lawful actions anchored on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and rooted in responsible, forward-looking defense.”
Padilla added that the Philippines’ alliances — particularly with long-time partners like the United States — are grounded in shared values such as respect for peace, security, and international law.
“Our partnerships, especially with long-standing allies like the United States, reflect shared values and a collective commitment to safeguarding peace, security, and the rules-based international order,” she said.
She also emphasized that these joint efforts serve to strengthen not only military capabilities but also mutual trust and strategic coordination between partners.
“As emphasized by AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., ‘We will assess our readiness in all domains — air, land, sea, cyber, information, and the emerging frontier of space — through comprehensive exercises that integrate tactical precision with strategic foresight,’” she said.
On Wednesday, the AFP confirmed that its air forces had just conducted a joint air patrol with their American counterparts over the WPS on 28 April, reinforcing ongoing defense cooperation between the two nations.
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) deployed three FA-50 aircraft, while the US Air Force participated with a B-1B bomber, two F-16s, and two F-18 aircraft.
PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the joint activity aimed to enhance collaboration and improve interoperability between the AFP and US air forces.
“With this, the PAF reinforces its commitment and operational readiness to support the AFP’s mission in safeguarding the country’s territory and sovereign rights and promoting a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region,” Castillo noted.