Esperon: PH ready for war if Pinoys in SCS are harmed

From Malaya Business Insight (May 31): Esperon: PH ready for war if Pinoys in SCS are harmed

NATIONAL Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday hinted government will use force if China will harm Filipino civilians and soldiers in Philippine-held areas in the South China Sea (SCS) or the West Philippine Sea.

“The other night, the President said, ‘If our troops will be harmed, that will be my red line,’ or if civilians will be harmed there in Pag-asa Island,” Esperon told reporters at a forum in Manila.

Esperon, also chairman of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, said the disputed areas in the South China Sea are “very important” to the administration of President Duterte.

“We are not saying we are going to war but if we are forced, if they oppress us, we are not going allow ourselves to be oppressed there (in the South China Sea),” said Esperon, a former Armed Forces chief.

Esperon said China is superior militarily, with lots of ships and aircraft. Many of these assets have been deployed recently to the reefs in the South China Sea, which China has transformed into military and air bases.

“Are we in a position to wage war? Of course not. But shall we not go to war if provoked and if unnecessarily aggrieved? Of course, we are going to defend our country... War remains to be the last option. It’s but necessary to defend yourself,” he said.

“We are not at war nor do we intend to make war the primary instrument of handling the West Philippine Sea (dispute)... If soldiers or civilians are harmed, the (situation) changes. The bottom line is it’s always the well-being of the Filipino,” he also said.

He said the Duterte administration wants the dispute resolved through diplomatic means, adding that Philippine relations with China do not start and end with the South China Sea.

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims over the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG), also known as the Spratly Islands. Filipino troops are occupying nine areas, the largest of which is Pag-asa Island which hosts hundreds of civilians.

China and Philippines are also locked in a territorial dispute over Panatag Shoal, or Scarborough Shoal, off Zambales. Chinese ships gained control of the shoal in 2012 following a standoff with their Filipino counterpart.

On the landing of H-6K Chinese bomber planes on Woody Island in the Paracels group of islands, also in the South China, Esperon said the government is not inclined to lodge a protest against China. The island is being claimed by China, Vietnam, and Taiwan.

Esperon noted that Woody island, which is not being claimed by the Philippines, is about 1,000 km from Pag-asa Island which in turn is 280 nautical miles (450 km) from Puerto Princesa. Pag-asa is the farthest among the nine Philippine-held areas.

Esperon said Manila would still be within the 1,900-km range of the bombers even if they take off from Hong Kong. He said Manila is just 1,200 km from Hong Kong.

“Are we the target? Should be alarmed? I do not think so because we are not at war with China and we are not at war of course with ASEAN... So shall we lodge a protest against that? I don’t think so,” said Esperon.

On Chinese militarization of the South China Sea, Esperon said it was expected of China to put defense systems, including anti-submarine, anti-aircraft, and anti-ship to defend their islands. He said some of the armament are capable of reaching Philippines.

“The question is, are these weapons aimed at the Philippines? No. Can they be aimed at the Philippines in the future? Possible, if we are at war with China,” he said.

Esperon also disclosed that lighthouses are being put up in five of the nine Philippine-held areas -- Pag-asa, Parola, Likas, Patag and Kota islands -- for navigational purposes. The four other Philippine-held areas are Ayungin shoal, Lawak island, Rizal reef and Panata island.

“As a matter of safety of life at sea, we are putting up lighthouses...That will aid navigation in the area,” he said adding a funding of P10 million has been earmarked for the construction.

Esperon also confirmed reports that the Philippine military has constructed a beaching ramp at Pag-asa island, preparatory to the improvement of the airstrip in the island.

“We are going to improve our airstrip there. That’s been planned a long time ago and we are doing it (now). We have already finished the beaching ramp. The beaching ramp is needed for the hauling of construction materials,” he said.

Esperon said facilities for soldiers and civilians in the island will likewise be improved.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, at a House briefing, asked lawmakers to trust the administration’s diplomatic strategy with China, reminding them that Filipinos can now fish in the West Philippine Sea because of President Duterte’s closeness with the emerging superpower.

“We came from a time in the previous administration when we could not even fish. We had to play ‘patintero’ whenever we send supplies to the Ayungin Shoal (or the Second Thomas Shoal) but now we can do it (and) because we did it quietly, the situation improved,” he said.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/business-news/news/esperon-ph-ready-war-if-pinoys-scs-are-harmed