The Philippine government continues to demonstrate to China that it can defend its own territory and will not request an escort from the United States or any other foreign country for its missions to the West Philippine Sea (WPS), maritime security expert Jay Batongbacal said on Saturday.
“Kaya nga ano, kaya din ang gobyerno, ang Armed Forces (of the Philippines) maingat din na hindi basta-basta lang gagawin iyon na magpapa-escort sa U.S ‘no,” Batongbacal told the weekly news forum in Quezon City.
Batongbacal, a lawyer from the Institute for Maritime Affairs of the University of the Philippines – College of Law, made the remark when asked why the Philippines has not requested an escort from the U.S. despite the threatening maneuvers of the China Coast Guard against Philippine vessels in the WPS.
“Isa pa ang praktikal, para sa akin iyong sariling mahalagang aspeto niyan is pinapakita din ng Pilipinas na hanggat sa makakaya niya sasarilihin niya itong problema na ito, hindi iyong tipong parang bata ka na kamo …tatakbo agad sa iba, kailangan ipakita muna natin na talagang tumitindig tayo…,” Batongbacal said.
“Kaya mahalaga iyon, I think para sa atin na only has last resort talaga natin ma-invoke iyong alliance hindi first recourse,” he added.
Reports have indicated that the U.S. had offered to escort the Philippines’ resupply missions following Beijing’s intensified efforts to block them.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief Gen. Romeo Brawner said the Philippines would only consider taking up the offer in life-saving missions.
“We’re happy that the US has given us a range of options including that of joining or escorting us for the ROREs (rotation and resupply missions),” Brawner told a news conference after meeting with US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo in Baguio City.
Batongbacal explained that the Philippines is not engaging in “brinkmanship,” a foreign policy practice that involves taking high risks to gain an advantage in negotiations.
“Why historically, the Philippines has not engaged in brinkmanship. Bakit? Kasi nga, ang preference ng Pilipinas is maayos at mapayapang usapan ‘di ba,” Batongbacal said.
He noted that the Philippines has not made similar requests for naval escorts from other claimants in the South China Sea, such as Malaysia or Vietnam.
“Never tayong nag—umaksiyon na talagang parang provocative parang hinahamon natin sila kasi parang ganoong brinkmanship… tingnan natin kung saan ka aabot, hindi natin ginagawa iyan,” he said.
According to Batongbacal, that is not the intention or an option either. “Kasi, brinksmanship works more or less equal, dito kitang-kita natin iyong situation is not equal kaya hindi natin gagamitin iyon,” he pointed out. PND