War games with US, Canada and Australia unlikely to deter China
WAR GAMES among the Philippines, United States, Canada and Australia would probably annoy Beijing but are unlikely to deter Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, according to a security analyst.
“The war games will irk but will not deter China from its current activities,” Rommel C. Banlaoi, chairman of the Philippine Institute for Peace, Violence and Terrorism Research, said in a Viber message. “China knows how to deal with countries ganging up on her.”
He said engaging with China through dialogue would be a more effective way to ease tensions in the waterway.
Manilla, Washington, Ottawa and Canberra held their first joint military exercises in the South China Sea on Aug. 7 and 8 amid Beijing’s increased military buildup in the waterway.
The United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines, has held similar exercises with other countries in the disputed waters, having carried out drills with Manila and Tokyo in June.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a Viber message seeking comment.
In a statement on Wednesday, the defense and military chiefs of the four countries vowed to uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
“The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states,” they said.
Naval and air force units would operate together within the Philippines’ 200 nautical-mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to improve cooperation and interoperability, they added.
The Philippines will also hold a joint coast guard exercise with Hanoi on Aug. 9.
The Philippines and Vietnam have filed separate claims with the United Nations to an extended continental shelf to recognize their entitlements beyond their 200 nautical-mile exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Portions of the waterway, where $3 trillion worth of trade passes yearly, are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas deposits, as well as fish stocks.
A United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 voided China’s claim over the waterway for being illegal. Beijing has ignored the ruling.
Beijing’s Foreign Ministry has said Manila and its allies ganging up on China would only destabilize peace in the region and worsen tensions.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III announced $500 million (P28.84 billion) in military funding for the Philippines after their 2 + 2 ministerial dialogue with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique A. Manalo and Defense Secretary Gilberto Eduardo C. Teodoro, Jr. in Manila last week.
Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said in his third address before Congress that his government would continue to find ways to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea “without compromising our position and our principles. — John Victor D. Ordoñez