AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. during a press briefing in Western Command Headquarters in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. 黑料社/John Eric Mendoza
PALAWAN, Philippines 鈥� The government is planning to deploy naval reservists in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) to counter the suspected presence of Chinese maritime militia in the area, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Thursday.
鈥淵es it鈥檚 part of our plans,鈥� Brawner said in a press conference in Western Command (Wescom) headquarters here in Puerto Princesa City, when asked if the government plans to counter Chinese maritime militia in the area.
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鈥淲hen we say reserve force, it鈥檚 not just land-based forces, so we are also trying to develop our reservists who will be able to operate in the sea,鈥� he added.
Brawner said this plan is now in initial stages, but more funds are needed to purchase vessels that would put the plan to fruition.
鈥淲e have established these units but we are going to wait for the platforms or the vessels that they will use,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t depends on the funds, but definitely, we are pursuing that direction,鈥� he added, partly in Filipino.
Brawner made the statement in the wake of revelation of AFP聽Wescom chief聽Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos that 鈥渕ore than 400鈥� foreign fishing vessels are within the country鈥檚 exclusive economic zone in the WPS, with around 85 percent of them are Chinese vessels.
搁贰础顿:听
The presence of the suspected Chinese maritime militias are in line with China鈥檚 assertion that it owns almost all of the areas in the South聽China聽Sea, including the聽WPS through its聽nine-dash聽line.
But the Philippines challenged聽this before the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which later invalidated聽Beijing鈥檚 sweeping claim.