From Rappler (Oct 13, 2020): AFP chief contradicts Lorenzana: South China Sea 'becoming more tense' (By RAMBO TALABONG)
Philippine military chief General Gilbert Gapay says the West Philippine Sea remains a 'potential flash point' given the rising tensions in the region
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Gilbert Gapay said that the South China Sea situation "remains volatile and uncertain" – quite different from the picture painted by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana just the day before.
"The situation in South China Sea remains volatile and uncertain. We have seen aggressive actions in the part of China in reclaiming the area and deploying warships there and coast guards are very visible in the area as their maritime militias there," Gapay said at a Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) forum on Tuesday, October 13.
Gapay, who was responding to questions on the volatility of the situation in the South China Sea, added that the situation "becomes more tense" because China is conducting more operations, and even recently launched a missile in the area. The United States, meanwhile, continues with its patrols to maintain freedom of navigation and trade in the area.
"We still need to prevent hostile actions to start in the West Philippine Sea because it really is a potential flash point in this part of the globe," Gapay said.
What did Lorenzana say?
Lorenzana said at a budget hearing on Monday, October 12, that the situation in the South China Sea was "stable" and "manageable."
Lorenzana made the statement when senators asked him to describe the biggest national security threats to the country.
The defense chief said that instead of China, the Philippines' biggest threats are communist rebels and terrorists.
"We can focus more our attention on our internal threats," Lorenzana said, despite the military and the police already claiming that they have decimated the forces of both threats.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/afp-chief-contradicts-lorenzana-south-china-sea-more-tense
"The situation in South China Sea remains volatile and uncertain. We have seen aggressive actions in the part of China in reclaiming the area and deploying warships there and coast guards are very visible in the area as their maritime militias there," Gapay said at a Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) forum on Tuesday, October 13.
Gapay, who was responding to questions on the volatility of the situation in the South China Sea, added that the situation "becomes more tense" because China is conducting more operations, and even recently launched a missile in the area. The United States, meanwhile, continues with its patrols to maintain freedom of navigation and trade in the area.
"We still need to prevent hostile actions to start in the West Philippine Sea because it really is a potential flash point in this part of the globe," Gapay said.
What did Lorenzana say?
Lorenzana said at a budget hearing on Monday, October 12, that the situation in the South China Sea was "stable" and "manageable."
Lorenzana made the statement when senators asked him to describe the biggest national security threats to the country.
The defense chief said that instead of China, the Philippines' biggest threats are communist rebels and terrorists.
"We can focus more our attention on our internal threats," Lorenzana said, despite the military and the police already claiming that they have decimated the forces of both threats.
https://www.rappler.com/nation/afp-chief-contradicts-lorenzana-south-china-sea-more-tense
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