NextGen Day

In light of what it describes as “continuous infringements” on its sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea, the Philippine government stated on Tuesday that it is “necessary” to strengthen defense capabilities.

Enrique Manalo, the secretary of foreign affairs, stated Tuesday at a CSIS conference that Manila would maintain its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over the West Philippine Sea through “peaceful and legal means.”

Including claimants in bilateral and international negotiations with the Association of Southeast Asian States is one of them (ASEAN).

Manalo declared that Manila would keep pushing for a “functional and inclusive” COC that is based on the UNCLOS and “considers the interests of all parties beyond ASEAN and China.”

Realizing these goals necessitates “the strongest commitment to discussion and diplomacy from all parties,” he said.

However, Manalo continued, “repeated violations of our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction; as well as other destabilizing actions that violate international law, the 1982 UNCLOS, and the spirit and letter of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, also necessitate the improvement of our defense capabilities.

In addition to the context of its Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) with the United States, he declared that the nation will strengthen its defense capabilities.

Manila would also look into “realistic measures” to increase operational coordination with “like-minded countries” including Japan and Australia.

The announcement was made prior to the planned 2+2 foreign and defense ministerial discussions between the US and the Philippines on April 12 and during the current 2023 “Balikatan” military exercises, the largest to date (Manila time).

There are 17,680 Filipino, American, and Australian participants in the 2023 “Balikatan.”

Before this, Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, had issued a warning that “US-Philippines military cooperation must not interfere in South China Sea conflicts.”

The relevant countries’ trade and collaboration, he said, “should not be directed against any third party and should be supportive of regional peace and stability.”

The majority of the South China Sea remains subject to Chinese sovereignty under the so-called “nine-dash line,” which crosses the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

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