As China continues its reclamation activities in the South China Sea, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief Gen. Gregorio Catapang said more planes and ships are needed to patrol the disputed waters and assert Philippine sovereignty.
In an interview with reporters on Wednesday, Capatang highlighted the imperative of enabling the AFP modernization program to purchase the needed patrol vessels.
The latest surveillance photo of Burgos Reef (Gaven Reef), according to Philippine defense officials, showed that China has built a complex as large as the Mall of Asia in Pasay City – Manila’s biggest shopping mall.
Last week, the Philippines called on China to stop reclamation works in contested areas in the South China Sea, including in areas that Philippine officials say are within Manila's territory.
Asked if more soldiers will be deployed to the areas where reclamation activies are being done, Capatang said: "Hindi naman kailangan magdagdag ng mga sundalo doon."
Instead the Philippine government should continue being vocal against the reclamation, "which the DFA has been doing," Catapang said.
He added that he hopes the arbitration case the Philippines filed against China will soon be resolved.
"It will now be the international community that will help us in our claim for these areas...ano...so yun ang importante dun kasi nga we want the international community to understand our situation," he said.
Earlier this week, the Philippines called on the international community to press for a stop to massive reclamation activities in the South China Sea that could increase tension in the disputed area.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Undersecretary Evan Garcia said at the 17th ASEAN-India Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held in New Delhi on March 14 that “such unbridled reclamation activity worsens an already sensitive geopolitical situation and raises the specter of increasing militarization.”
The DFA also said that Indian Minister of External Affairs Anil Wadha assured the Philippines "that India will encourage the peaceful resolution of the dispute."
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