Philippine News Agency – The enhanced defense cooperation between the Philippines and the United States (US) is an “effective” strategy to deter conflict in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), political analysts said on Saturday.
Satellite images obtained by international news agency Reuters showed that China deployed two long-range H-6 bombers this week, near the hotly contested Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
On Friday, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with military and defense officials at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
At the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, De La Salle University professor Renato de Castro said the deployment of two Chinese bombers is proof that efforts to beef up the military partnership between the Philippines and the US are effective.
De Castro said it is not surprising that China deployed its bombers, in time for Hegseth’s visit to the Philippines.
“The fact na nagre-react ‘yung China, meaning effective ito. Naapektuhan siya. Hindi lang siya natatakot. Talaqgang nagagalit siya dahil tinatakot natin sila. Kung matakot man siya o hindi (The fact that China is reacting means it is effective. It has been affected. It is not just afraid. It is really angry because we are making them afraid. Whether it is afraid or not), that’s not part of our business,” he said.
“When it comes to national defense, this is really a sovereign act,” de Castro added.
Geopolitical analyst Don McLain Gill agreed with his fellow La Salle professor, saying China’s latest move is “quite expected.”
He said Hegseth’s visit to the country signals the US’ strong commitment to helping the Philippines in its maritime row with China.
“Nakita po natin na (We saw that) there is this recognition that we need to deploy more from the US side, more advanced weapon systems to more properly address ‘yung (the) emerging threat coming from either pagdating sa (in) Taiwan or sa (in the) West Philippine Sea,” Gill said.
“So, in that regard, it is also in the interest of the United States to ensure na nandito rin ‘yung higher system nila (that their higher system is also here),” he added.
In a press briefing after his meeting with Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Hegseth said the US would deploy additional capabilities or weapons in the Philippines as part of efforts to deter conflicts in the Indo-Pacific Region.
Hegseth said the US would deploy the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) anti-missile system and highly capable unmanned surface vehicles at the military exercise “Balikatan” in April.
He said the systems will allow the US and Philippine troops to train together using advanced capabilities.