Philippines plans to buy submarines to defend sovereignty in South China Sea: Senior official
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The announcement comes at a time of growing tensions with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
PHOTO: AFP
MANILA – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has approved the third phase of the military’s modernisation, which includes the purchase of the country’s first submarine, in order to defend its maritime sovereignty in the disputed South China Sea.
Mr Roy Trinidad, navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said on Feb 1 that the third phase of modernisation reflected a shift in strategy away from internal to external defence.
“We may not be a large navy... but we would have a navy that will take care of our territorial rights and sovereignty,” he said.
The third phase of the modernisation plan, which was revised to make it more attuned to the country’s needs, is estimated to cost 2 trillion pesos (S$47.8 billion) and will be implemented over a period of several years, Mr Trinidad said.
The announcement comes at a time of growing tensions with China over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Manila refers to that part of the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippine Sea.
Mr Trinidad could not immediately say how many submarines the Philippines intended to acquire, but did say: “Definitely more than one.”
France, Spain, South Korea and Italy have shown interest in supplying the Philippines with submarines, he added.
South-east Asian neighbours like Indonesia and Vietnam already have submarine programmes.
While the first and second phases of the modernisation plan were “land-centric”, said Mr Trinidad, the third phase will seek, among others, to boost military capabilities in the West Philippine Sea.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro had said in January that acquisitions under the third phase will focus on an array of capabilities, such as domain awareness, intelligence and deterrence capabilities in the maritime and aerial spaces.
Beijing and Manila have traded sharp accusations in recent months over a succession of run-ins in the South China Sea, where each has overlapping sovereignty claims, including charges that a Chinese vessel in December rammed a ship carrying the chief of staff of the Philippine armed forces.
China claims most of the South China Sea, parts of which are also claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Indonesia.
An international tribunal in 2016 invalidated China’s claim in a ruling on a case brought by the Philippines, which Beijing rejects.
REUTERS
