AFP vows to defend WPS amid China tensions
NAVAL vessels from the Philippines and United States sail in formation during the conduct of the Phl-US Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea, showcasing combined naval capability, operational interoperability, and the collective resolve of allied forces to safeguard maritime security.
Photograph courtesy of AFP
Amid the discussions on what are the necessary diplomatic measures to uphold the dignity of the country on the issue of the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, on Tuesday said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will keep performing its mandate to defend the country's territory against Chinese narratives.
"China's Communist Party is existential threat to the Philippines. Their illegal presence in our EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone), their coercive actions against the Philippine Navy (PN), the Coast Guards, BFAR and other agency, against the AFP has been recorded. Again, I mention, numbers do not lie, people do. Their deceptive messaging is there to give a sense of legitimacy to their coercive actions. They are an existential threat," Trinidad told reporters at the weekly press briefing at Camp Aguinaldo.
Trinidad said the stand of the government is very clear. "WPS is ours, we will not give up one square inch. The AFP will keep performing its mandate. And we have been performing ever since," he said.
"The stance of AFP (under the response initiative) is to tell the story as it is. WPS is ours. We got hit by coercive and invasive actions. There has been an illegal presence since 1992 of the (Chinese Coastguards, Navy and Militia)," Trinidad added.
The PN Admiral said even the current political environment will not weaken their resolve to protect the WPS, as they are also unbothered by the ongoing row between the country's leaders, stressing that the troops remain loyal to their duty to protect the country and the Constitution. "The AFP will continue performing its mandate to ensure the integrity of our national territory," Trinidad told the Daily Tribune after the briefing.
He added that, just like the Philippine Coast Guard invitation to some lawmakers to see the Kalayaan Island Group, the PN is also glad and appreciates if the lawmakers visit the contested territories.
Meanwhile, a separate statement from the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI) was also issued Tuesday, firmly affirming the Philippines’ lawful rights under international law.