AFP chief sees nothing wrong with US Navy surveillance flight

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri (Photo from Gov.ph)

MANILA – Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri defended US Pacific Fleet (PACFLT) Commander Admiral Scott Swift, saying that the latter’s maritime surveillance flight over the West Philippine Sea meant no harm.

“We find nothing wrong with Admiral Swift’s flight over West Philippine Sea as they were flying over international waters,” Iriberri said.

“It is customary for new military commanders to go around and see first-hand his area of responsibility and check the capabilities of his force,” he added.

Swift visited the Philippines for three days before heading to other allies in Asia. A day before his surveillance flight, the admiral made a courtesy call to Iriberri and Navy Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Jesus C. Millan. He did not, however, discuss the seven-hour surveillance mission.

China later on criticized Swift’s surveillance flight with spy plane P8-A Poseidon. Swift, for his part, clarified that his flight was only a routine intended to test the aircraft’s full range of capabilities.

Meanwhile, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin welcomed Swift’s maritime surveillance flight, glad that the United States of America remained committed to supporting its allies amid the territorial disputes among the Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam at the Spratly Islands

“Militarily, we are nothing against China… That’s why we have been asking our allies to assist us,” Gazmin said.

As of posting, China has already accomplished its massive reclamation activities in at least seven contested reefs and has already begun infrastructure building.

US Army well-equipped

In a recent interview with reporters, Swift disclosed that the US Navy was well-equipped and prepared to respond should any unwanted incident occur in the West Philippine Sea.

“The reason that people continue to ask about the long-term commitment and intentions of the Pacific Fleet is reflective really of all the uncertainty that has generated in the theater now,” he said.

“If we had the entire Unites States Navy here in the region, I think people would still be asking, ‘Can you bring more?” he added.

Swift also stated that the Navy has been planning to purchase more units of P8-A Poseidon as replacements to its P-3 Orion fleets. He noted that aside from surveillance, the new planes could also be used for reconnaissance missions and anti-submarine warfare.