Teodoro: Collective action key to protecting PH maritime domain

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday stressed the significance of collective action, particularly in protecting the Philippines’ maritime domain against foreign threats.

He said working with like-minded countries is important to enhance the Philippines’ maritime deterrence, humanitarian efforts, defense initiatives, as well as efforts to uphold a rules-based international order.

He also noted that relationships with partner nations are necessary to combat attempts by some countries “to change the narrative.”

“And a big example of changing the narrative is China’s nine-dash line,” he said during the Third Balangay Forum at Asia Pacific College (APC).

“We saw what happened in Mischief Reef, where they claimed — no less than their foreign minister — very theatrically claimed that they will never militarize; it’s only for peaceful purposes. And now, you see a heavily militarized artificial island,” he added.

The Philippine Coast Guard previously reported that Chinese forces fired flares at its aircraft while it was conducting a routine surveillance flight over Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef) and Zamora Reef (Subi Reef).

Following the incident, the Department of Foreign Affairs said China’s island-building on the two reefs violates the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, or Republic Act No. 12064, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, in relation to the 2016 Arbitral Award.

“That is why we are developing the capacity of the armed forces to enforce, in coordination with our law enforcement agencies in a sustainable and logistically secure and sound manner, the laws of the Republic of the Philippines and the norms that we have agreed to in international treaties, particularly and principally the UN (United Nations) Charter,” Teodoro said.

He also noted efforts to make the Philippine Navy an expeditionary navy, or a naval force capable of operating from its home shore to remote areas, to protect Filipino seafarers and vessels even on the high seas.

He said these efforts are part of the Department of National Defense’s (DND) initiative to develop the blue economy, or resources relevant to the seas and oceans.

“The blue economy is our future. The blue economy is our link to sustainability, to development, and to prosperity. We need the sea in order to secure supply chains that are essential for our daily life and essential also for productivity. Without these supply chains, then we construct our economic base, we imperil our society, and we imprison future generations,” he explained.

Key government officials, policymakers, as well as local and maritime experts gathered at the third Balangay Forum to commemorate Maritime Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month.

The forum centered on the country’s maritime issues, sustainability efforts for coastal communities, and blue economy development, among others. /mcm