AFP responds to China’s criticism over joint drills in the West Philippine Sea, asserting that the Philippines is merely defending its sovereignty under international law.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) condemned China’s Southern Theater Command on Sunday following joint military exercises conducted by the Philippines, the United States, and Canada in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Padilla emphasized that the Philippines is not encroaching on any foreign territory but is instead protecting its own sovereignty and territorial rights as recognized under international law.
Padilla’s statement was in response to Chinese Southern Theater Command spokesperson Tian Junli, who accused the Philippines of covering up its alleged illegal actions in the region and escalating tensions through “military provocations” and “media hype.”
In an interview, Padilla clarified that Filipinos are not expansionists and do not interfere with other nations’ territories.
He also highlighted the 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which rejected China’s expansive claims over the WPS and affirmed the Philippines’ rights over its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Reiterating the country’s stance, Padilla stated, “Hindi po tayo nag-e-expand sa iba pang lugar.” (“We are not expanding into other areas.”)
The WPS covers the waters surrounding the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), which are part of the Philippines’ EEZ.
Despite the ruling, China continues to assert its claims in the region, branding the 2016 decision as “illegal” and “invalid.”
On Wednesday, the Philippines, the United States, and Canada held the 7th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity, a joint military exercise aimed at strengthening cooperation within the Southeast Asian nation’s EEZ.
AFP Chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. stated that the purpose of these exercises is to demonstrate a collective commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The AFP also reported that Chinese vessels were detected during the drills, including three People’s Liberation Army Navy ships, an oceanographic surveillance ship, and a helicopter.