Navy supports new petition before UN against aggressive Chinese actions in WPS

A Philippine Navy official said the service is fully supporting the government's plan to file new petitions against China’s aggression in the South China Sea before the United Nations. 

In an interview with Orly Trinidad on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson, Philippine Navy for the West Philippine Sea said they support the government's plan as a reaction to Chinese harassment.

“May mga nagsasabi na nga sa gobyerno na mag file ng panibagong petisyon ulit sa UN na yung tuluyang paghaharass ng China, ang pinag-iisipan ng gobyerno ito. At nakikita natin ay ang Tsina ay sinasabi nila huwag tayong mag-file, mag-usap tayo,” Trinidad said.

“Kung sa akin lang ay dapat mag file tayo. Sapagkat natatakot (ang Tsina) na mag file tayo nyan. Napapahiya sila duon e,” the admiral added.

(The government has been receiving advice to file new petitions aginst China before the UN for their ongoing harassment and it is considering this China instead is telling us not to but talk instead.)

The navy official said he believes that whatever issues there are between the two countries should be brought to a court of law.

Trinidad said the recent Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan strengthens the country’s stand in the West Philippine Sea and benefits the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Ang kagandahan nito, Japan nag seek na ng intention na umabot sa isang treaty, it’s almost a treaty na dadaan sa Senado at sa Kongreso, na nagpapatibay sa ating stand sa West Philippine Sea at may mga ibang bansa pa na nakaabang lang sa gilid natin. Pagkatapos nito we will also be signing of agreements with them. At ito ay magandang indikasyon para sa AFP sapagkat this will afford the opportunity na makapag interact pa sa kanila sa mas malalim na bagay,” he said.

Trinidad said among these opportunities are more military exercises with Japan and other countries in the WPS that will help the Philippines’ secure the economic value of the oil, gas and mineral deposits in the WPS and the South China Sea within the Philippines’s exclusive economic zone or EEZ.

The senior navy official said he has observed that the majority of Filipinos support the government in its decision to fight for the sovereignty of the WPS.

Do not fear the Chinese navy

Responding to a Chinese aircraft carrier with three escorts that passed near Philippine waters a few days ago, Trinidad said Filipinos have nothing to fear from overt displays by China's navy.

“Ang kanilang mga doctrine, Number one: pag malakas ka ipakita mo na mahina ka. Number two, pag mahina ko, ipakita mo na malakas ka… itong ginagawa nila sa South China Sea: maingay sila,” he said.

(Their doctrine is number one: act weak when you are strong. Number two: act strong when you are weak. This is what they are doing in the South China Sea, acting strong.)

Trinidad said the Chinese Navy needs decades to master naval warfare, particularly when it comes to its aircraft carriers. He said even the US Navy, which has been operating aircraft carriers for more than a century, still encounters problems and challenges as part of naval aviation.

“Itong sa (People's Liberation Army Navy) hindi pa nasubok sa giyera ito and yet kung mag aasta sila akala mo talagang ano, so ang sinasabi ko sa ating mga kababayan, marami pa silang kakaining bigas. Bagama’t advanced sila sa atin, pero matagal pa bago nila maabot ang operational level ng aircraft carriers nila,” the admiral said.

(The PLAN has not been tested in battle and yet act as if they are a force to be reckoned with. To our countrymen: they are not there yet. Despite being advanced than us, it will take a long time before their aircraft carriers reach an operational level.

Numerically, the PLAN is the second largest navy in the world with 350 surface ships and submarines. The Chinese have two active aircraft carriers, the Liaoning and the Shandong. A third, the Fujian, is currently undergoing sea trials. A fourth carrier is said to begin construction. 

As to possible defensive measures by the PN, Trinidad said the service is seriously planning undersea warfare capabilities within the Department of National Defense. He earlier mentioned that France, Spain, Korea and Italy have shown interest in supplying the Philippines with submarines. —RF, GMA Integrated News