Engaging more countries to strengthen Philippines' maritime sector, says expert

The Philippines should turn to multilateralism or engage more countries to establish a strong defense posture and and have secure civil maritime sector, a security expert has said.

Chester Cabalza, in a paper titled “Philippine Civil and Maritime Security: Transforming from Archipelagic to Maritime Power”, said such multilateralism was “more welcome” than exclusive bilateralism.

“The Philippines’ diplomatic and economic rapprochements with Beijing through bilateralism certainly missed out on the golden opportunity to spread a unified narrative to the international community and against its maritime rival in the South China Sea despite the strong support for its arbitral ruling awarded at The Hague,” said Cabalsa in his paper, which was launched recently by the think tank Stratbase ADR Institute.

“The soft pedal and meek policy in the West Philippine Sea saw the continuous incursions and expansions of China’s coast guard and maritime militia," he added.

The security expert urged the next President to address the gaps and initiate military reform, adding this is crucial to “pursuing stable security structures”.

“The AFP should improve its human, organizational, and information capital," Cabalza said.

"It shall build a culture of jointness and establish integrated secure communications and information systems to institutionalize integrated joint logistics support systems and develop a professional and highly motivated regular and reserve force,” he added.

Cabalza's findings and recommendations have been discussed in a virtual forum and book launch put together by Stratbase Bower Group Asia (BGA) on April 5.

During the discussion, Professor Victor Andres “Dindo” Manhit, emphasized the need for the Philippines to craft a more responsive and strategic foreign policy as part of an interconnected international society.

Manhit said the elections would give Filipinos the opportunity to elect leaders who will advance the country's strategic interests and actively pursue multilateral and inclusive cooperation with like-minded states.

Ernest Bower IV, president and CEO of BGA, talked about how the United States could show its commitment to the ASEAN region even as it had announced its Indo-Pacific Strategy and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

Dr. Prashanth Parameswaran, deputy head of research of BGA , said the Biden administration was trying to find its own feet with respect to working with allies, partners and like-minded countries.

Meanwhile, Jim Carouso, senior adviser for BGA and Australia chair for the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said pressure from China was an area where the US and the Philippines should cooperate so they could understand the nature of the threat. —NB, GMA News