The Philippine Territory

MANILA, Philippines -Amid continuing territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) the Philippines said it is pushing for peace in the Southeast Asian region, but will not hesitate to “tap every resource,” and “call on every alliance” to defend its territory.

“Our region would also need to know that we are steadfastly for peace; but that we stand ready to tap every resource, to call on every alliance, to do what is necessary in order to defend what is ours, to secure our nation and to keep our people safe,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) secretary Albert del Rosario said Monday.

Del Rosario, together with Department of National Defense (DND) secretary Voltaire Gazmin, announced in a press conference the official start of negotiations between the United States (US) and the Philippines on their increased rotational presence.



“Some time ago, we developed a policy and arrived at an understanding with the US, our treaty ally, on increased rotational presence,” he said.

The policy would be institutionalized once negotiations, which are set to being this week, are complete and a framework agreement has been signed by both countries.

Del Rosario said that the presence of US troops in the country would boost the maritime capabilities of the Philippines even without the need to acquire new military hardware.

“Maritime security and maritime domain awareness will be given a boost even before we have ships and aircraft that we need,” he said, enumerating the benefits of the rotational presence of US troops.
“Modernization can begin even before we are able to purchase the necessary defense systems,” del Rosario added. “Even before we have the advanced hardware we wish for, we will know how to operate and maintain them.”

Read more: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/83063/ph-vows-to-tap-every-resource-to-defend-disputed-sea#ixzz2byRXMSSe