Wescom increasing air patrols over West Phl Sea

MANILA, Philippines - The military’s Western Command (Wescom) is increasing the frequency of its aerial and sovereignty patrols over the West Philippine Sea following China’s reported deployment of a naval ship to patrol the region.

On Thursday, through its state-run Xinhua news agency, China announced the deployment of Haixun 21, the first oceangoing patrol vessel equipped with a helipad, to conduct maritime patrol in the West Philippine Sea.

Haixun 21 is the first of its kind to be put into service in the West Philippine Sea and will be under the administration of the Hainan Maritime Safety Administration, Xinhua said.

“We will validate this through constant aerial and sovereignty patrols,” Wescom commander Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban told The STAR in reaction to the report.

Based in Palawan, Wescom has operational jurisdiction over wide areas of the West Philippine Sea to include the country’s regime of islands in the Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in the Spratlys archipelago.

“We are also ready to enforce Philippines and international laws,” Sabban said, apparently referring to China’s deployment of its first maritime patrol ship in West Philippine Sea, where Beijing has already established and fortified its occupation of the Panganiban Reef (Mischief Reef), an area well within the country’s exclusive economic zone.

Another senior military official described China’s deployment of its patrol vessel as another round of propaganda stunt from Beijing, saying Chinese ships have been crisscrossing the area for the longest time.

Asking not to be named because he is not authorized to speak on the issue, the official said that aside from maritime ships, China has already deployed several missile-and torpedo-firing warships in the region as shown last July when one ifs frigates ran aground at Half Moon Shoal, an area very near mainland Palawan.

“The Chinese have been doing that, sending patrol vessels and warships in our waters and only now are we reacting to this, because in the past, our political and military leaders were busy engaging and playing politics,” he said.

He also admitted if there’s anything that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) can put against China’s continuing intrusion in the country’s territorial waters at this time, it is the will to fight of every Filipino soldier against any foreign invaders.

This developed as two US warships – a nuclear-powered Los Angeles Class submarine USS Bremerton and USS Gridley, an Arleigh-Burke class destroyer – will be arriving in the country today.

The US embassy in a statement said Bremerton will be docking at Subic Bay in Olongapo City while Gridley will be dropping anchor at the Cebu City port.

“The visit, a routine port call that highlights the strong historic, community, and military connections between the US and the Philippines, will allow the ships to replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation,” the US embassy said in a statement.