Philippine defence chief says South China Sea territorial dispute remains security challenge

Philippines' defence chief Delfin Lorenzana said that much still has to be done to boost the country's military capability equipment in order to meet a number of persistent maritime security challenges. PHOTO: REUTERS

MANILA (REUTERS) - The Philippines' territorial dispute with Beijing over the South China Sea remains a security challenge despite an improvement in bilateral ties, the Philippines' defence chief said on Monday (March 26) as he accepted three maritime surveillance planes from Japan.

Mr Delfin Lorenzana, in a speech at a naval base south of the capital Manila, said the three Japanese-donated, second-hand TC90 planes will definitely boost the navy's capability to gather intelligence in the disputed South China Sea.

"We must admit that much still has to be done to boost our military capability equipment in order to meet a number of persistent maritime security challenges," Mr Lorenzana said, identifying territorial disputes with China and other countries over resource-rich areas in the South China Sea.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, where about US$5 trillion (S$6.56 trillion) worth of sea-borne goods pass every year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have conflicting claims in the strategic waterway.

Tensions between the Philippines and China over the disputed sea have eased since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in July 2016 and improved relations with Beijing via Chinese trade and investments.

Mr Lorenzana said the Philippines was also concerned with piracy and the movement of armed insurgents in the Sulu Sea and other transnational crimes, including smuggling of illegal drugs and poaching in rich fishing grounds in its territorial waters.

Japan planned to lease five surveillance planes but decided last year to transfer without cost the aircraft after changes were made in Tokyo's self-defence forces law allowing donation of excess defence and military equipment to partner countries.

Japan's vice minister for defence, Mr Tatsuo Fukuda, said Tokyo was willing to help its allies improve their capabilities to help secure the safety of international sea lanes and benefit not only the Philippines but the entire region.

During the handover ceremony, Mr Lorenzana and Mr Fukuda watched the planes land at a naval base guarding the mouth of Manila Bay, hundreds of kilometres south-east of the disputed Scarborough Shoal now patrolled by Chinese coast guard ships.

The navy said the surveillance planes have a range of 300km, twice the capability of its existing aircraft, and could patrol near China's seven artificial islands in the Spratlys, which have been converted into military bases.

The navy said it has a budget of nearly 6 billion peso (S$150.48 million) to acquire two brand new long-range maritime patrol aircraft to enhance its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

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