MANILA, Philippines — China’s aggressive reclamation of reefs in the West Philippine Sea has turned territorial defence into the country’s biggest security threat. It may even spark an armed conflict in the region, or at its worst, World War III.
The US has pledged support for the Philippines. The ongoing war games called Balikatan fronting the South China Sea is a strong indication of American support. Surely, other claimants like Taiwan, Vietnam and Malaysia would be allies. However, Russia and North Korea, both communist countries, may join in the fracas
Judging from recent developments, particularly the reports of massive reclamation projects by China in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, it is now appears that territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea has in fact overtaken all security issues in the hierarchy of national security issues. This fact has been echoed by National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia Jr during a Senate hearing last month.
The defence and military establishment called for bigger funding for the military modernization. Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Catapang said they want at least 1% of the annual budget to finance modernization. Based on the 2015 budget, 1% means about P26 billion a year.
“That should be the benchmark. Capability cannot be developed overnight. It’s not like going to Shoemart and buying new shoes. It takes time,” Catapang said. He added: ” We do not have the luxury of time.”
Garcia said it’s time to free the AFP from its internal security obligations – communist insurgency and terrorism, among others – so it can focus on external defence. The readiness of the police to take on these responsibilities should be fast-tracked, he said.
The Philippines filed an international arbitration case against China’s aggression in the South China Sea, citing the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).