SPRATLYS ARMS RACE HEATS UP: AFP TO BUY 6 FIGHTER JETS
[PHOTO COURTESY OF ASIA PACIFIC NEWS - Philippine President Benigno Aquino III (R) offers a handshake as Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie (L) salutes during a courtesy call at the Malacanang palace in Manila. (AFP Photo/Noel Celis)]
MANILA, JULY 3, 2011 (MANILA STANDARD) by Florante S. Solmerin - THE military plans to acquire six jet fighters for interdiction missions against intruders into Philippine waters and air space, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Friday.
"We're giving so much priority to our internal security operations, but lately the equation has shifted because we realize we've also to assess our external defense capability," Gazmin told reporters at the sidelines of the Air Force's 64th anniversary celebrations.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said senior military officials had recommended an initial six multi-role planes to be acquired within the term of President Benigno Aquino III.
He said the Air Force was looking at either Korea's TA-50 Golden Eagle or Italy's M-346, and depending on their arms and in-flight instrumentation would cost about P1 billion each.
The Air Force retired its last seven F5 fighter jets in 2005 after having been in service for 40 years.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, meanwhile, said President Aquino's planned visit to China did not mean the Philippines was backing down from its assertions Chinese forces had been intruding on Philippine waters.
The Philippines claims that Chinese forces intruded at least nine times into Manila-claimed areas in the Spratly Islands since February, allegations that sparked an exchange of diplomatic protests and verbal jabs. Mr. Aquino has strongly criticized China, saying two weeks ago that his country would not be bullied by China in the disputed region.
The presidential trip would likely take place in late August or early September, Del Rosario said.
The Spratlys, a chain of barren, largely uninhabited islands, reefs and banks in the South China Sea, are claimed wholly by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and partly by the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The islands are believed to be atop vast oil and gas deposits.
Chinese Ambassador Liu Jianchao has denied his government committed any intrusions, but acknowledged that Chinese vessels were exercising Beijing's sovereign rights in one incident at the Reed Bank near the Spratlys. Philippine officials complained the Chinese vessels harassed a local oil exploration ship into leaving the Reed Bank in March.
Just before he traveled last week to Washington, Del Rosario said he was told that the military was verifying another foreign intrusion into the Spratlys area.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton gave strong assurances that the US was committed to the defense of the Philippines, and would provide affordable weaponry amid mounting tensions in the Spratlys, Del Rosario said.
He said he separately gave US defense officials a list of equipment the Philippines needed to improve its capability to monitor foreign intrusions in its territorial waters near the Spratlys.
Clinton assured del Rosario that the US would honor its 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines that calls on each country to help defend the other against an external attack by an aggressor in their territories or in the Pacific region, he said.
Del Rosario said he told US officials that if the Philippines received defense equipment, "we become a stronger ally for you." With the Associated Press
FROM MALAYA
Aquino warns of Spratlys arms race BY REGINA BENGCO
PRESIDENT Aquino yesterday said conflicts that arise from territorial disputes in the South China Sea promote an arms race in the region.
Aquino, in an ambush interview after seeding Laguna Lake with 200,000 fingerlings, said he told Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie during their meeting Monday afternoon about the possible dangers of encounters between or among forces of countries claiming the Spratlys islands in the South China Sea.
"Sabi ko, 'Pag nagkakaroon ng ganitong insidente, does it not parang promote the arms race happening within the region? When there's an arms race, yung potential for conflict hindi ba tumataas? Sino nakinabang doon?' (I said, 'When such an incident happens, does it not promote the arms race happening within the region? When there's an arms race, does it not raise the potential for conflict? Who benefits from that?)," he recalled telling Liang.
Aquino admitted the Philippine military is no match for the Chinese defense forces.
He said he told Liang, "We may not have the capabilities now, but that might force us to increase our capabilities also."
He said he told the Chinese defense minister that the incoming equipment for the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police are meant to address these needs.
Aquino branded as "sensationalized" reports about new structures being constructed by the Chinese military in the Spratlys islands. He said the reported structures are old.
He also said it was not established whether the fighter jets that buzzed the Philippine OV-10 planes last week over Reed Bank, which is not part of the disputed territory, were Chinese.
Yesterday, media reports indicated constructions by China of more outposts in its occupied islands in the Spratlys which is said to be rich in oil and minerals deposits. The report was accompanied by satellite photos of the supposed constructions.
Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said: "This was lifted from the old file. Patrols by aircraft in the area revealed no new structures. So these are old structures. I think this was lifted somewhere, maybe it was taken from the internet."
Gazmin said the defense and military establishments can do nothing about the Chinese activities but file protests.
"Until such time we upgrade our capability and modernize our Armed Forces, we can do nothing but to keep on filing protests…We really lack in capability," said Gazmin.
Last March, two Chinese vessels intruded into the Philippine waters and harassed a Department of Energy exploration vessel at the Reed Bank off Palawan. Occupants of the Chinese ships told the DOE workers to leave because the bank is Chinese territory.
Recently, military sources revealed the buzzing of two OV-10 bomber planes of the Air Force while on reconnaissance mission on May 12 at the Reed Bank, allegedly by two Chinese MIG fighter jets.
Interviewed after the celebration of the Navy's 113th foundation anniversary, AFP chief Eduardo Oban said the Air Force needs a land-based 3D radar capability and long-range maritime patrol aircraft. He said while the acquisition of these assets is in the pipeline of the military modernization, the economy factor will always come into play.
"We hope we can have a land-based 3D radar in the near term, within 2012 to 2016," said Oban, adding the acquisition of such assets could take a time because of the long procurement process.
Oban and Gazmin stressed the need to upgrade the capability of the Air Force and the Navy.
Gazmin said the Navy is in a "deplorable" state because of lack of assets.
Gazmin said the Navy's assets "simply succumbed to the punishment of wear and tear and obsolescence." The Navy has about 100 assorted ships in its inventory, including logistics vessels.
But he noted the Hamilton class Coast Guard cutter which was acquired from the United States "will be a big boost to our fleet, considering its multi-role capability." – With Victor Reyes
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Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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