Lorenzana: Philippines minutes away by jet from reclaimed islands

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese jets could reach and bomb the Philippine mainland in 15 minutes if launched from reclaimed features in the South China Sea, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana admitted in a hearing at the Senate.

 

Lorenzana also admitted that Chinese ships can reach the Philippine mainland in half a day after China had built military structures in seven reclaimed features in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

 

"Correct, senator," Lorenzana answered after being asked by Sen. Richard Gordon if Chinese jets could reach the country in a matter of minutes from their artificial islands near Palawan.

 

The Defense secretary also admitted before the Senate panel on national security and defense that the Philippine military would not be able to detect Chinese jet overflights as the country does not have a radar nor interceptor fighters.

 

"That is why you should have a sense of urgency. The frigate will be used to protect other shipping and anti-submarine warfare," Gordon said.

 

Comparing China to a crocodile, he stressed that the Philippines could not just give in to Chinese demands as the country could eventually be eaten by Beijing.

 

"We cannot keep on feeding the crocodile because eventually we will be eaten by the crocodile? Is that an apt analogy?" Gordon asked, to which Lorenzana answered again in the affirmative.

 

Based on so-called historical rights, China claims a large part of the South China Sea, including the part that Manila claims and calls the West Philippine Sea. The Philippines, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei meanwhile claim parts of the vast sea through which around $5 trillion worth of trade passes.

 

China has been aggressive in staking its claim in the waters, transforming previously uninhabited features into islands with military structures and runways capable of hosting fighter jets.

 

Just weeks ago, it was reported that China was almost complete in its militarization of the artificial islands in the region. 

 

According to the think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, China completed its construction of infrastructure necessary for fully functioning air and naval bases on its larger outposts.

 

Some of these infrastructures were built in 2017, well into the first year of President Rodrigo Duterte’s first term and contrary to the remark of the presidential palace that these were built before the current administration came to power.

 

AMTI on Friday said that Beijing was likely using Fiery Cross Reef as an intelligence hub in the region considering the large communications or sensor array it put there last year.

 

A US aircraft carrier is currently on a visit to Manila this week, in a sign that Washington is ready to flex its muscle in the region in the face of China’s aggressiveness in the area.