MANILA: The Philippines plans to ramp up military spending over the next 13 years, earmarking more than $20bn to modernise its forces in the face of Beijing’s maritime ambitions in the disputed South China Sea, a top air force official said.
Major-General Raul del Rosario, military chief of plans, said the blueprint includes installing radars and sensors, and buying equipment such as submarines, frigates, fighters, surveillance planes and missile systems.
“By the time, we complete this plan, we will have complete coverage of the South China Sea,” said del Rosario, a former fighter pilot, showing the military’s detailed plan that was approved on Friday.
“We will have 24/7 awareness of what is happening in the disputed area and we’ll be able to respond quicker to any contingency in our own exclusive economic zone.”
He said the ambitious plan was initiated in 2013, but top brass had only approved overall spending of 998 billion pesos ($22.11bn) last week.
Del Rosario said 83bn pesos had been earmarked for the first five years, 444bn pesos for the second five years and 471bn pesos for the last five years.
In 1995, Congress had earmarked 364bn pesos for a similar 15-year plan. Less than one-tenth of that sum was actually spent by 2010.
The modernisation programme is designed to strengthenManila’s claims in the South China Sea, believed to be rich in energy deposits.
China has become increasingly assertive in the South China Sea, building artificial islands in areas over which the Philippines and other countries have rival claims. The moves have sparked alarm regionally and in Washington.
President Benigno Aquino has promised the military about 34bn pesos this year, which will fund the purchase of two frigates and a twin-engine long range maritime aircraft.
So far, the government has given the military 9.4bn pesos in 2014. This has been used to purchase eight combat utility helicopters and as a downpayment for 12 FA50 fighter-trainers from South Korea. Two of the aircraft are expected in 2016.
Del Rosario said that between 2018 and 2023 the Philippines would buy electric-diesel submarines and advanced missile systems.
Three aerial surveillance radars with a range of 350 nautical miles will also be installed in Ilocos Norte, Lubang island and Mount Salacot in Palawan, all facing the South China Sea to detect movements in the disputed area.
These will complement the navy’s two surface sensors capable of detecting ship activities 200 miles away. Three surveillance planes will also be on constant patrol in the area.
“We do not aim to defeat China,” del Rosario said. “But our goal is make any state think twice before attacking. We will make sure anybody attacking us would end up with a bloodied nose.”
Meanwhile, the Philippine navy recently found a large steel marker bearing Chinese inscriptions and hundreds of yellow buoys in waters near the Reed Bank, an area of the South China Sea where Manila has long explored for oil and gas, Philippine naval sources said.
One source, a sailor, told he was on a fishing boat being used by the navy that discovered the rubber buoys and the floating steel marker at the end of May. The buoys stretched “as far as the eye could see”, the sailor said.
He said there was no evidence Chinese ships had placed them near the Reed Bank, which is also claimed by Beijing.
But efforts to remove the buoys were thwarted by the sudden appearance of a Chinese naval patrol vessel, prompting the Philippine boat to flee, the sailor said in an interview in Puerto Princesa, capital of Palawan province, the Philippine military’s jumping off point to the disputed South China Sea.
The Reed Bank lies 80-90 nautical miles (148-167 km) west of the Philippines in what Manila regards as its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
“Our boys tried to cut and remove the buoys but a large Chinese patrol ship emerged on the horizon and they hurriedly left,” the sailor said, adding it was unclear what the Chinese inscriptions on the steel marker said.
The discovery was confirmed by two senior Philippine naval officials.
Reuters
