Philippine says armed forces to ensure 'unimpeded and peaceful' exploration in South China Sea

0
3K

 The Philippines armed forces will guarantee the "unimpeded and peaceful" exploration and exploitation of natural resources within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as it shifts its focus to external defence, Manila's defense secretary said.

"We are evolving into a defence concept which projects our power into areas where we must, by constitutional fiat and duty, protect and preserve our resources," Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told the Manila Overseas Press Club on Tuesday night.

Teodoro also said the Philippines will "increase the tempo" of activities with allies and major partners in the West Philippines Sea and other parts of the country and "exercise these partnerships to the full".

Manila calls the portion of the South China Sea that is within its EEZ as the West Philippine Sea, where it has had a series of confrontations with China with both trading accusations of provoking conflict.

In addition to the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts of the South China Sea disputed by China, which claims almost all of the sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis, a ruling Beijing rejects.

Plans by a Philippine firm to drill for oil and natural gas on the Reed Bank in the South China Sea have been hampered for years by the territorial dispute.

"We are not the ones encroaching on the EEZ of another country sea. The encroacher has a vast area of sea," Teodoro said. "We do not want a fight, we want peace but it should be based on international law and sustainability."

"We will not bend over backward," Teodoro said.

China and the Philippines agreed last week to improve maritime communication and to properly manage conflicts and differences in the South China Sea through friendly talks.

Patrocinados
Buscar
Patrocinados
Categorías
Read More
News
US Air Force reports lower B-21 costs after negotiations with Northrop
The Air Force is seeing the unit cost of the B-21 Raider, its next stealth bomber, come down...
By Ikeji 2024-04-11 16:18:55 0 2K
Food
Perth Food Delivery: 7 Delicious Dishes to Rescue Busy Family Mealtimes
  Juggling work, school, extracurricular activities, and everything else that comes with...
By asif123 2025-02-21 12:59:38 0 2K
Other
바카라사이트: 2025년 최고의 바카라 운영 사이트 보기
바카라의 무효한 물소적 단서 바카라(Baccarat)는 특정 상황에서 고통적으로 바꼬오 표를 만들어 보는 플레이 방식이 반복되는 것이 특징입니다. 바카라사이트, 이렇게...
By steaveharikson 2025-03-04 21:41:16 0 1K
Other
Sobha Altus Luxury Apartments: Designed for Discerning Buyers
In the bustling city of Gurgaon, where modernity and luxury converge,...
By Harshit_Pandey 2024-11-04 09:02:00 0 2K
Other
Returnable Plastic Crate Market Set to Reach USD 2.9 Billion by 2033, Driven by Sustainability Trends and Industry Innovations
The global returnable plastic crate market, valued at USD 1.7 billion in 2023, is expected to...
By nk99fmi 2024-12-11 20:46:11 0 2K
Patrocinados
google-site-verification: google037b30823fc02426.html