PH military to keep policy in handling WPS under new chiefs —exec

Department of National Defense (DND) Undersecretary Angelito De Leon said Wednesday that there will be no adjustments in the military operations in the West Philippines Sea (WPS), following the recent changes in its leadership.

De Leon made the remark when asked if there will be changes in the handling of the WPS, given the appointments of Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation, and Unity Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. as the secretary of the DND, and of General Andres Centino back as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff.

“I think the handling of the West Philippine Sea, based on the foreign policy initiated by our chief architect, the President of the Republic, remains to continue,” he said.

“There shall be no changes insofar as handling of the West Philippine Sea issue because we are implementers of policy,” he added.

In December 2022, the DND ordered the AFP to strengthen its presence in the WPS amid reports of new Chinese activities close to Pag-asa Island. DND said encroachment in the WPS or reclamation on its features is a threat to the security of Pag-asa Island "which is part of Philippine sovereign territory."

This came after Bloomberg reported that China is building new constructions and reclamations in at least four unoccupied features in the Spratlys namely Eldad Reef, Whitsun Reef, Lankiam Cay, and Sandy Cay.

The Chinese embassy in Manila and the South China Sea Probing Initiative, however, denied Bloomberg's report, calling it “fake news.”

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently concluded his state visit in China. After his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Marcos said he expects tension in the West Philippine Sea easing and incidents of harassment decreasing.

During his China trip, Marcos also secured several deals and agreements as well as around $22 billion worth of investment pledges.—LDF, GMA Integrated News