Expanding defense of PH’s exclusive economic zone in WPS

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (File Photo: Philippine Army/Facebook)

MANILA – As the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) gets the upper hand in its ongoing anti-insurgency campaign, it is gradually shifting its focus on strengthening the country’s external defense capabilities.

This includes the retooling of the AFP Modernization Program (AFPMP) to provide capabilities that will allow it to protect the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea, which is about 200 nautical miles from its coast.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., in an interview last October, said this shift is now underway in Horizon 3 of the AFPMP.

He said this reconfiguration, while still defensive, was recommended by then newly-appointed Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in June.

“When the SND (Secretary of National Defense Teodoro) came, he (looked at) Horizon 3, and told us we should revisit it and ‘rehorizon’ it, that was his term, ‘rehorizon’, so we looked at it, the original Horizon 3 was made before the events that happened, the water cannoning, laser pointing, and the like,” Brawner said in a mix of Filipino and English.

This is in response to incidents of China’s interference with Philippine resupply efforts to its detachment aboard the BRP Sierra Madre, which is keeping watch over Ayungin Shoal in the WPS.

China would later increase its aggressive actions in these waters –from using water cannons to drive away Philippine supply boats to performing dangerous maneuvers that damaged Philippine Coast Guard vessels accompanying these resupply missions.

Brawner added the original Horizon 3 was made with “territorial defense in depth” in mind, which meant that the military had to wait for threats to come near before engaging them and consisted of “first, second, third, and fourth line of defense”.

However, he said this would change as Teodoro pressed the military to be more proactive and project its defenses outward.

This means defensive efforts will now focus on defending the Philippines’ EEZ and not only the country’s baselines or coasts, Brawner said.

Forward defense

The AFP chief said this refocus is similar to the United States’ defense strategy of “forward defense” where threats are contained or repulsed as far away as possible.

In this shift, Brawner said the AFP is aiming to protect Philippine-held islands in the WPS which he identified as Pag-asa, Panata, Parola, Likas, Patag and Lawak.

Aside from these islands, the Philippines also occupies four other features in the WPS and these are Kota Island, Likas Island, Rizal Reef and Ayungin Shoal.

To carry out this mission, Brawner said the AFP needs equipment capable of projecting defenses forward.

“So what equipment do we need for this mission, of course, we need multi-role fighters, more naval ships, submarines, things like that, you need to project your defenses. And we will be doing (this) not only in the West but also in the North and East, we (also) need to defend the Philippine Rise,” he added.

Under the AFPMP’s Horizon 3 which is now being tweaked, Brawner said there are plans to increase the number of multi-role fighter (MRF) aircraft from the initial 12 units earlier planned.

The AFP chief did not give specifics on how many MRF aircraft will be added as the Air Force is still finalizing the planned numbers.

Also, Brawner did not elaborate on proposed platforms or equipment being eyed in the new Horizon 3 as this is still being developed.

Horizon 3 was initially scheduled from 2023 to 2028 while Horizon 2 was from 2018 to 2022, and Horizon 1 from 2013 to 2017.

Paradigm shift

Teodoro said Manila’s move to assert its authority over its EEZ is part of the Marcos administration’s “paradigm shift” in addressing issues in the WPS.

However, he said the Philippines’ “friend to all policy” will stay provided that other countries would also remain friendly.

Meanwhile, Teodoro said the military’s modernization would be intensified with the timely enactment of the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

Speaking at the sidelines of the turnover of the Japanese-made air surveillance radar system to the Philippine Air Force in San Fernando, La Union on Dec. 20, the DND chief said these planned upgrades of the AFP show that the Philippines is not relying too much on its allies.

Teodoro said it is also important to show these countries that the Philippines is doing its best to upgrade its military capabilities.