File photo of Chinese militia vessels spotted by the Philippine Coast Guard while within the country’s exclusive economic zone. (Photo courtesy of South China Morning Post)
WE in China would not be intimidated by the U.S. actions, not even if the United States sent all 10 aircraft carriers to the South China Sea. — Former Chinese state councilor Dai Bingguo at a conference at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank in 2016
THE United States is living up to its role as ‘Big Brother’ and its vaunted naval force with 43 aircraft carriers that includes 11 large nuclear-powered ones has announced that it is open to cooperation opportunities with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Philippines.
No less than USN Rear Admiral Michael ‘Buzz’ Donnelly, commander of America’s naval forces based in Jinhae, South Korea, declared that the US Navy “looks to support . . . the common universal values (everyone) share with (its) allies and partners.”
The admiral issued the statement while he was aboard the USN 7th Fleet’s flagship USS Ronald Reagan while it was on a brief port call in Manila.
The carrier’s strike group was in the Sea of Japan following the launch of a ballistic missile by North Korea.
Donnelly stressed that the US Navy will maintain its freedom of navigation missions in the West Philippine Sea thus “reinforce(ing) (Washington’s) commitment that (it) will fly, steam and sail anywhere that international law allows.”
And in response to the USN’s commitment, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. enthused that he is open to the freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the West Philippine Sea, which is being claimed by China as part of its territory.
The issue of freedom of navigation operations in the disputed seaway was discussed during a meeting between President Marcos and US President Joseph Robinette Biden in New York last September.
“We are certainly open with cooperation opportunities we have with our partners and allies in the region,” Donnelly reiterated.
US Ambassador Mary Kay Carlson, who was also on board the USS Ronald Reagan, said that the ship’s visit strengthens the ties between the Philippines and the US, especially since the Indo-Pacific waters are a “challenging environment to navigate.” However, the truth of the matter is that navigating the disputed region of the West Philippine Sea (or South China Sea) is not just a challenge but a perilous endeavor to most, especially Filipino fishermen who have not only lost their livelihood due to the encroachment of Chinese militia vessels into the area but have also been robbed of their catch by abusive personnel of the People’s Liberation Army Navy and Coast Guard.
Thanks to a former president who was infatuated to China’s Xi Jinping like an innocent virgin, Chinese incursions and invasive operations within our territorial waters, particularly our exclusive economic zones (EEZs), the Chinese have no qualms over its violations of Philippine sovereignty. So what do we do now—especially considering that we do not have the military capacity to face an ‘enemy’ that has three aircraft carriers and a vast number of naval warships at aircraft.
We guess this time and once again, we need Washington to back us up as our true ‘Big Brother’.
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