Para may bantay China: AFP urged to put forward operating bases in West PH Sea

By Billy Begas

Amid the Chinese incursions, House Committee on Strategic Intelligence Committee chairperson and Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel called on the government to establish naval “forward operating bases (FOBs)” in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Pimentel said positioning the Philippine Navy in the area will prevent China from asserting administrative control over any reefs, rocks or lagoons within the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone.

“We should avoid a repeat of the 2012 incident where China was able to occupy Bajo de Masinloc,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel suggested putting up new FOB in Balabac and Busuanga in Palawan, and in Subic Bay, which is only 123 nautical miles west of Bajo de Masinloc.

An FOB is a secured outpost that can serve as a springboard for sustained remote operations.

He said Navy’s two lead warships– multi-role guided missile frigates BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna should be posted in the FOBs and conduct routine operation in WPS.

The French-made, 84-meter offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) should also be constantly deployed in the area, he said.

“Both the Coast Guard and the Navy should marshal their best defensive fighting assets in the waters where we are most vulnerable,” Pimentel added.

In the 2012 standoff, Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels blocked access to Bajo de Masinloc. They thwarted the BRP Gregorio del Pilar from accosting Chinese boats caught illegally fishing in the area.

As part of a deal brokered by the United States government, both China and the Philippines were supposed to withdraw their ships from Bajo de Masinloc.

However, after the Philippines had pulled out, China reneged and kept occupying the chain of coral reefs and rocks that forms part of the Municipality of Masinloc in Zambales.

The post Para may bantay China: AFP urged to put forward operating bases in West PH Sea first appeared on .

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)