Brawner: Several countries expressed intention for joint patrols in WPS

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said more countries, aside from the United States, have expressed intention for a joint sail in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

“Definitely, that is in our plan and right now we are in the process of now working with the other countries who in fact want to join the joint sail,” Brawner said at a press conference.

“So aside from the US, several countries have given their intention of joining the joint sail,” he added.

For Brawner, the interest of other countries is “a very good indication” for the Philippines that there are like-minded nations who want to promote rules-based international order and ensure security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Joint patrol with US

US Indo-Pacific Command commander Admiral John Aquilino said the US and the Philippines have conducted its first joint patrol.

“Under the title of joint patrols just recently on the 4th of September, we executed the first one that was aligned, designed, and built by General Brawner's team and my team executed with approval from our leaders,” he said.

“We'll continue to do that for a long term, ultimately to ensure that we can maintain the freedom of the seas, freedom of airspace so that all the nations in the region can enjoy peace and prosperity,” he added.

On Wednesday, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. pointed out the importance of alliances with like-minded countries amid “the changing threat situation” in the WPS.

“With the changing threat situation at saka ang mga kilos ng ating mga katunggali sa WPS, kailangan talagang i-leverage natin ang ating mga alyansa hindi naman para kung ano man, but to enforce the rules-based international order at ang UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Teodoro told reporters at the Senate.

(With the changing threat situation and the moves of other countries in the WPS, we need to leverage our alliances not for anything but to enforce rules-based international order and the UNCLOS.)

Teodoro cited the importance of Philippine allies in asserting the country’s sovereignty over the WPS.

“You know ang laban natin ay para kilalanin ng buong mundo ang ating mga karapatan. Kaya importanteng importante po ang alyansa ng like-minded nations para magkaron ng boses, malakas na boses sa buong mundo,” Teodoro said.

(Our objective is for the whole world to recognize our claims. That’s why the alliance with like-minded nations is important so we may have a louder voice in the whole world.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News