South China Sea: Philippine defense chief calls for new alliances, naval overhaul to counter Beijing

PhilippinesThe defense chief is pushing for a rapid and comprehensive modernization of his country’s navy and coast guard to counter Beijing’s controversial aggressive tactics. South China Sea.

National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said a new defense partnership is needed and the capabilities of defense personnel must be enhanced to maintain a credible deterrence posture.

„We will put it through a comprehensive overhaul, build alliances,” he told reporters in Manila on Monday as he piloted two donated coastal patrol ships. America. „It is natural. Alliances are natural, even China has alliances. So it should be considered,” he said.
A Philippine supply boat maneuvers around Chinese coast guard vessels trying to block access to the second Thomas Shoal, 1,000 km south of mainland China and 300 km west of the Philippines’ Palawan province. Photo: A.P
Teodoro also condemned the Chinese Coast Guard’s „gross” violation of maritime laws. The Philippines tried to stop the boats last week The second carries supplies for Filipino troops stationed on a rusty old frigate at Thomas Shoal.
The Philippines landed PRP Sierra Madre In 1999 Manila strengthened its claim to the second Thomas Shoal, calling it Ayungin.

„I’m not a ship captain, but you can clearly tell that they were dangerously close. And if something goes wrong, who’s to blame? We’re moving straight and taking our ships. So who’s irresponsible? The answer is obvious,” Teodoro said.

Chinese, Philippine ships in another clash near grounded warship

He said redeployment operations would continue despite the „harassment” and that the country’s naval assets must be nimble to protect its territorial waters, The Philippine Star reported.

US Ambassador to the Philippines Marieke Carlson, who attended the commissioning event, said, „At a critical time in the maritime security environment, the ships provide real, strategic benefit not only to the Philippines, but to our alliance and the region.” The Indo-Pacific is increasingly complex.

Beijing claims sovereignty over the entire South China Sea — where the Philippines and several other countries have competing claims — and Rejected A 2016 International Judgment Its claims have no legal basis.

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The Philippines has accused the Chinese coast guard of firing water cannons at its ships in disputed waters.

The Philippines has accused the Chinese coast guard of firing water cannons at its ships in disputed waters.

Manila is starting to land on the multi-billion dollar Military modernization driveFocused on acquisition of strategic weapons systems, advanced warships and fighter aircraft.

But claims that the Philippines is being used as a „proxy war tool” by other countries against China amid continuing tensions were dismissed by Senator Francis Tolentino over the weekend.

The South China Sea is not just a US-China rivalry, the Philippines says

„This is not a proxy war because our ally is not only the United States, but Japan is our ally, Australia is our ally, England is our ally, Europe is our ally. I also mentioned that in recent weeks, India has emerged as an ally,” Tolentino said. The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

His comments came out after the president Ferdinand Marcos Jr Last week it rejected „false narratives that frame disputes in the South China Sea only through the lens of strategic competition between two superpowers.” Refers to the US and China.
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