AFP reviewing exchange program that trains senior officers in Beijing

From the Manila Standard (Aug 9, 2023): AFP reviewing exchange program that trains senior officers in Beijing (By Joyce Pangco Pañaresand and Macon Ramos-Araneta)

The Armed Forces of the Philippines is studying the concerns raised over an exchange program that sends Filipino military officers to China – including whether to discontinue it – amid Beijing’s continued incursions in the West Philippine Sea.

“We are looking at that issue. We are doing a thorough study,” AFP spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar told Manila Standard in a phone interview.

“That (whether to discontinue the program) is part of the (study) requirements given to another staff,” he added.

Senator Jinggoy Estrada, chairman of the Senate Defense Committee, said he has asked the AFP to submit a report on the military exchange program that is paid for in full by the Chinese government.

Senator Francis Tolentino described the military exchange program as “very alarming” while Senator Raffy Tulfo said it was a “slap in the face of Filipinos” amid China’s aggressive acts.

Tulfo said the exchange program gives China an opportunity to “infiltrate” the AFP hierarchy.

“Stop the government program sending AFP officials to China for studies and training,” Tulfo said during Monday’s hearing on proposed amendments to the decades-old National Defense Act.

“So, they have an allowance from the Chinese government? It must have an allowance – like for billeting, lodging, accommodation,” Tolentino said.

“You will receive a patch if you graduate, and you must learn and sing the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China. Alarming indeed… With the tensions in the West Philippine Sea, I don’t think it’s good to send our officers there,” he added.

Defense Senior Undersecretary Irineo Espino said only officers with the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher apply for the yearlong training in China.

The Philippines on Monday summoned Beijing’s envoy to protest the use of water cannons and dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said

“Our secretary of Foreign Affairs summoned Ambassador Huang (Xilian) today and gave him a note verbale including pictures (and) video about what happened and we are awaiting their reply,” Mr. Marcos said.

“The position of China, of course, is they say ‘this is ours so we are defending it’ and we, for our part, are saying ‘no, we own it so we are defending it.’ So that becomes a gray area that we are discussing.”

The incident happened Saturday as the Philippine Coast Guard escorted charter boats carrying food, water, fuel, and other supplies for Filipino soldiers stationed at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, through which trillions of dollars in trade passes annually. It has ignored a 2016 international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.

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