Proposed PH-China joint exercises might not push through, says Brawner

The joint military exercises that China has offered the Philippines might no longer push through considering the recent tensions in the West Philippine Sea, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said Sunday.

“Well, sa ginagawa nila, talagang mukhang malabo na po,” Brawner said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Well, with what they're doing, it looks it won't happen anymore.)

It was in July when the AFP chief announced that Beijing has offered to hold joint military drills with Manila.

The National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea had said that the Philippines and China have no visiting forces agreement that may cover such joint military exercises between the two countries.

Brawner said the military drills with other countries the Philippines considers its “partners” like the United States, Japan, and Canada would continue.

“Kailangan nating ipaalam sa buong mundo ang nangyayari dito sa South China Sea. Dahil ‘yung mga nangyayaring ito recently, we have been successful in exposing ‘yung mga ginagawang coercive and dangerous tactics ng China,” he added.

(We need to let the whole world know what is happening here in the South China Sea. Because of what is happening recently, we have been successful in exposing China's coercive and dangerous tactics.)

On August 5, the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against the Philippine Coast Guard fleet that was on a resupply mission to Filipino troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre in the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea.

Several countries — led by the United States, Australia, Japan, and Canada — expressed support for Manila and criticized China's actions, the latest in the string of several reported incidents of harassment against Philippine vessels this year. —KG, GMA Integrated News