MANILA, Philippines- Hindi motibo ng pagpapatupad ng Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) ng bagong defense concept na naktutok sa proteksyon ng maritime territory ng bansa na paigtingin ang tensyon sa West Philippine Sea (WPS).
Ipinaliwanag ni AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla na mahalaga ang implementasyon ng Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) para sa pagpapahusay sa defense posture ng bansa, subalit hindi nangangahulugan ng panganganti sa ibang bansa.
Mayroong “overlapping maritime territorial claims”ang Pilipinas saChina sa South China Sea.
“The Philippines is an archipelagic country so we are composed of several islands and we have to enhance our defense posture in terms of the territorial waters surrounding our archipelagic country,” giit ni Padilla sa isang panayam nitong Linggo.
Kamakailan, ipinag-utos ni Chinese President Xi Jinping sa kanyang militar na maghanda paara sa potensyal na maritime conflict.
Inihayag ni Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. na nakikipag-ugnayan sila sa AFP para sa impelemntasyon ng CADC “to [develop] our capability to protect and secure our entire territory and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).”
“For us, we cannot speculate on the other side. We can only be speaking in terms of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. For our end, our actions are not really meant to escalate tensions, rather, these are regular operations in our territorial waters,” wika ni Padilla.
Regular na nagsasagawa ang AFP ng resupply mission sa siyam na features na okupado nito sa Spratly Island.
Noong nakaraang linggo, nagbanggaan ang Philippine Coast Guard vessel, na sumusuporta sa indigenous boats na itinalaga ng AFP para magdala ng supplies sa BRP Sierra Madre outpost sa Ayungin Shoal, at ang China Coast Guard (CCG) ship. Binomba rin ng CCG ang Philippine vessels gamit ang water cannons.
Apat na Pilipino ang nasugatan sa misyon, na inalmahan ng iba’t ibang bansa.
“The AFP strongly asserts the legitimacy of our operations within the West Philippine Sea. These are guided by international rules-based order and international law, and our commitment to protecting our national sovereignty,” pagbibigay-diin ni Padilla.
“Any challenges that we will be facing will be addressed with utmost professionalism. However, let it be clear that the AFP is fully prepared to defend ourselves and the lives of our members if necessary,” dagdag niya. RNT/SA
