Friday, June 24, 2011
The US will help Philippines ‘defend itself’—Secretary Clinton
from Inquirer.net
MANILA, Philippines—The United States government is ready to provide assistance to strengthen the Philippine military, including external support for maritime defense, amidst the mounting friction with China on the disputed Spratly islands.
“We are in discussions with the government of the Philippines about what their needs are because it is up to them to decide how to deploy forces and what their highest priorities are…But we certainly wish to do what we can to support the Philippines in their desire for external support for maritime defense,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, after meeting with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario in Washington D.C.
Clinton said supporting the defense of the Philippines would mean “finding ways of providing affordable material and equipment that will assist the Philippine military to take the steps necessary to defend itself.”
With the growing tension on the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine government has vowed to “do what is necessary to stand up to any aggressive action.”
Del Rosario said while the Philippines want to maintain peace, China’s response to the country’s diplomatic protests “have been unacceptable.”
“We are concerned about the aggressive intrusions being made by Chinese vessels,” he said. “And in the last couple of months, since February 25th, we actually have noted as many as nine intrusions of different varieties, but clearly becoming more aggressive and more frequent.
Del Rosario said the Philippines responded to these intrusions by filing diplomatic protests.
“We are concerned about the direction these events may be headed…while we are a small country, we are prepared to do what is necessary to stand up to any aggressive action in our backyard,” Del Rosario said.
He added that the Philippines made clear its position on the issue: to maintain peace while allowing for the economic development of the area.
“There is need to segregate the non-disputed areas from the disputed areas. What is ours is ours, and what is disputed can be shared,” Del Rosario said.
Clinton meanwhile said the US supports the ASEAN China declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea. She said the US government is also prepared to support the initiatives led by ASEAN and work with the South China sea claimants to meet their concerns.
The Aquino government already used “West Philippine Sea” to refer to the waters west of the country where the Philippines has overlapping territorial claims with five other nations. It was previously called “South China Sea.”
The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
MANILA, Philippines—The United States government is ready to provide assistance to strengthen the Philippine military, including external support for maritime defense, amidst the mounting friction with China on the disputed Spratly islands.
“We are in discussions with the government of the Philippines about what their needs are because it is up to them to decide how to deploy forces and what their highest priorities are…But we certainly wish to do what we can to support the Philippines in their desire for external support for maritime defense,” Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said, after meeting with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert Del Rosario in Washington D.C.
Clinton said supporting the defense of the Philippines would mean “finding ways of providing affordable material and equipment that will assist the Philippine military to take the steps necessary to defend itself.”
With the growing tension on the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine government has vowed to “do what is necessary to stand up to any aggressive action.”
Del Rosario said while the Philippines want to maintain peace, China’s response to the country’s diplomatic protests “have been unacceptable.”
“We are concerned about the aggressive intrusions being made by Chinese vessels,” he said. “And in the last couple of months, since February 25th, we actually have noted as many as nine intrusions of different varieties, but clearly becoming more aggressive and more frequent.
Del Rosario said the Philippines responded to these intrusions by filing diplomatic protests.
“We are concerned about the direction these events may be headed…while we are a small country, we are prepared to do what is necessary to stand up to any aggressive action in our backyard,” Del Rosario said.
He added that the Philippines made clear its position on the issue: to maintain peace while allowing for the economic development of the area.
“There is need to segregate the non-disputed areas from the disputed areas. What is ours is ours, and what is disputed can be shared,” Del Rosario said.
Clinton meanwhile said the US supports the ASEAN China declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea. She said the US government is also prepared to support the initiatives led by ASEAN and work with the South China sea claimants to meet their concerns.
The Aquino government already used “West Philippine Sea” to refer to the waters west of the country where the Philippines has overlapping territorial claims with five other nations. It was previously called “South China Sea.”
The islands are claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Aquino firm on China dispute
MANILA, Philippines—President Benigno Aquino vowed Wednesday that the Philippines would press its territorial claims in the South China Sea, despite the vast military superiority of its rival China.
Aquino also called on Beijing to follow international rules in seeking to resolve rival claims to the strategically important territory that includes the Spratly island chain, believed to sit on vast mineral resources.
“We are just protecting our rights because if you don’t exercise your rights, then you will be abandoning them,” Aquino told reporters.
“If we leave (the South China Sea), then they will just own it,” he said.
Aquino said the overlapping claims, which also include those from Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, should be settled multilaterally under international accords such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We expect China to adhere to that… We believe the basis for our claim is well-founded, especially under this treaty ratified by so many countries including China,” Aquino added.
Aquino said that settlement under UNCLOS was in the interests of the other South East Asian claimants, the United States, the United Nations and all parties who use the sea lanes.
The Philippines interprets the convention as saying a country has exclusive economic rights over waters within 200 nautical miles of its continental shelf.
The country has recently become more active in defending its claim in the South China Sea despite its lack of military resources to enforce it.
Earlier this month the Philippine Navy dispatched its flagship, an ageing World War II vessel, to patrol the South China Sea after China said it was sending a maritime patrol vessel through the area.
Manila has also accused China of being behind several provocative incidents in the Spratlys in recent months.
Singapore on Monday joined the debate, urging China to be more open about the extent of its territorial claims and saying Beijing’s lack of openness was causing international concern.
The Philippine military, meanwhile, said it would soon start repair of its airstrip in Thitu island in the Spratlys, which the country occupies.
“The order of our commander in chief is to do it as soon as possible,” said Lieutenant General Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces in the western Philippines.
Aquino also called on Beijing to follow international rules in seeking to resolve rival claims to the strategically important territory that includes the Spratly island chain, believed to sit on vast mineral resources.
“We are just protecting our rights because if you don’t exercise your rights, then you will be abandoning them,” Aquino told reporters.
“If we leave (the South China Sea), then they will just own it,” he said.
Aquino said the overlapping claims, which also include those from Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, should be settled multilaterally under international accords such as the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“We expect China to adhere to that… We believe the basis for our claim is well-founded, especially under this treaty ratified by so many countries including China,” Aquino added.
Aquino said that settlement under UNCLOS was in the interests of the other South East Asian claimants, the United States, the United Nations and all parties who use the sea lanes.
The Philippines interprets the convention as saying a country has exclusive economic rights over waters within 200 nautical miles of its continental shelf.
The country has recently become more active in defending its claim in the South China Sea despite its lack of military resources to enforce it.
Earlier this month the Philippine Navy dispatched its flagship, an ageing World War II vessel, to patrol the South China Sea after China said it was sending a maritime patrol vessel through the area.
Manila has also accused China of being behind several provocative incidents in the Spratlys in recent months.
Singapore on Monday joined the debate, urging China to be more open about the extent of its territorial claims and saying Beijing’s lack of openness was causing international concern.
The Philippine military, meanwhile, said it would soon start repair of its airstrip in Thitu island in the Spratlys, which the country occupies.
“The order of our commander in chief is to do it as soon as possible,” said Lieutenant General Juancho Sabban, commander of military forces in the western Philippines.
Singapore urges China to clarify South China Seas claim
Singapore has called on China to clarify its claims in the South China Sea following recent confrontations with Vietnam and the Philippines.
Singapore said China's "ambiguity" had caused international concern.
Singapore has no territorial claims in the area, but said it had an interest "in anything affecting freedom of navigation in international sea lanes".
Several Asian nations claim parts of the strategically important waters that may also contain oil and gas deposits.
Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia have competing claims to the Spratly Islands, while Beijing and Hanoi are in dispute over the Paracels.
Disputes debated
In a statement, Singapore's foreign ministry said: "We... think it is in China's own interests to clarify its claims in the SCS (South China Sea) with more precision as the current ambiguity as to their extent has caused serious concerns in the international maritime community."
It lays no claim to the disputed waters but, along with the rest of the region and the US, it has a strong interest in freedom of navigation.
Singapore is a major trading nation and also hosts a US naval facility.
The statement came after one of China's largest maritime surveillance ships, the Haixun 31, docked in the city-state after passing through the South China Sea.
The Haixun-31, which left China last Wednesday, intended to monitor shipping and "protect maritime security" on its way to Singapore, Chinese state media reported at the time.
Singapore's foreign ministry said there was an unusual amount of interest in the ship.
Tensions in the long-standing dispute have escalated in recent weeks, with Vietnam and the Philippines accusing China of increasingly aggressive actions in the pursuit of its maritime claims.
For the third week running, anti-China demonstrations have been held in Vietnam.
Vietnam staged a live-fire exercise last week near disputed waters, which Chinese state media denounced as a military show of force.
China has publicised a series of recent military exercises off its coasts, and Vietnam has planned exercises with the US next month.
Singapore said China's "ambiguity" had caused international concern.
Singapore has no territorial claims in the area, but said it had an interest "in anything affecting freedom of navigation in international sea lanes".
Several Asian nations claim parts of the strategically important waters that may also contain oil and gas deposits.
Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia have competing claims to the Spratly Islands, while Beijing and Hanoi are in dispute over the Paracels.
Disputes debated
In a statement, Singapore's foreign ministry said: "We... think it is in China's own interests to clarify its claims in the SCS (South China Sea) with more precision as the current ambiguity as to their extent has caused serious concerns in the international maritime community."
It lays no claim to the disputed waters but, along with the rest of the region and the US, it has a strong interest in freedom of navigation.
Singapore is a major trading nation and also hosts a US naval facility.
The statement came after one of China's largest maritime surveillance ships, the Haixun 31, docked in the city-state after passing through the South China Sea.
The Haixun-31, which left China last Wednesday, intended to monitor shipping and "protect maritime security" on its way to Singapore, Chinese state media reported at the time.
Singapore's foreign ministry said there was an unusual amount of interest in the ship.
Tensions in the long-standing dispute have escalated in recent weeks, with Vietnam and the Philippines accusing China of increasingly aggressive actions in the pursuit of its maritime claims.
For the third week running, anti-China demonstrations have been held in Vietnam.
Vietnam staged a live-fire exercise last week near disputed waters, which Chinese state media denounced as a military show of force.
China has publicised a series of recent military exercises off its coasts, and Vietnam has planned exercises with the US next month.
Danger at sea
China’s surprisingly aggressive assertion of “indisputable sovereignty” over the South China Sea has startled governments around the region, and puts the emerging superpower on a collision course with its partners in the region as well as the interests of the other, long-established superpower, the United States.
Misconceptions about the issue clutter the public discourse in the Philippines, however, and threaten to harden into conclusions. We owe it to ourselves – and senators and congressmen owe it to their constituents – to clarify the discussion, rather than confuse it.
In the first place, the increased chances of a confrontation with China over the Kalayaan Islands, that chain of islets to the west of Palawan that the Philippines claims, was not the saber-rattling idea of a President with declining satisfaction ratings. Media personalities identified with the Arroyo administration have advanced the suggestion that the entire issue is a wag-the-dog scenario. That kind of thinking reveals politics at its most parochial. If anything, Malacañang has been playing catch-up. China has been increasingly assertive in defending its claim to the area since last year; earlier this year, for example, China cut off the cables of two Vietnamese exploration vessels, one a mere 120 nautical miles off Vietnam’s coast.
Secondly, and contrary to the worldview of some politicians, the dispute does not involve the Philippines alone. Vietnam, in fact, has borne the brunt of renewed Chinese assertiveness, which helps explain why it conducted live-fire exercises off its coast last week. Japan has complained to China about Chinese naval war drills conducted near Okinawa and other islands the Japanese claim. Even Singapore, the lone regional player which is not a claimant, broke its diplomatic silence last week. As it prepared to receive China’s biggest “civilian maritime patrol ship,” it asked Beijing to clarify its territorial claims. “We have repeatedly said that we think it is in China’s own interests to clarify its claims in the South China Sea with more precision as the current ambiguity as to their extent has caused serious concerns in the international maritime community,” the Singapore foreign ministry said.
Third, and most crucial, the flexing of Chinese muscle is not about the Spratlys. It is not about the Paracel Islands, or any other territory included in the so-called nine-dotted line. It is, in fact, about the entire South China Sea which China calls, simply, the South Sea. Last July, in response to the forceful declaration by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that it was in the American national interest that “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea be maintained, the People’s Liberation Army issued an equally categorical statement. “China has indisputable sovereignty of the South Sea, and China has sufficient historical and legal backing” to support its claim, the military spokesman said. He added a proviso: “We will, in accordance with the demands of international law, respect the freedom of the passage of ships or aircraft from relevant countries.” The seemingly unilateral language of the American declaration should not confuse us; it is in the entire region’s best interest if freedom of navigation in the South China Sea remains a right, not a favor granted by Beijing.
Fourth, and most particular to our policymakers, the country may be weak economically and puny militarily, but in the looming confrontation with China it does have two advantages: It has international law on its side; and it can expect the support of the international community. China’s recent harassing of a Philippine exploration vessel happened off Recto Bank, only 80 nautical miles from Palawan but almost 500 from mainland China. Under either the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or the 2002 Code of Conduct, Beijing will have a hard time explaining this aggressive behavior.
Columnist Raul Pangalangan asked the right geopolitical question: What has happened to China’s policy of “peaceful rise”? Its increasingly bellicose posture cannot be disguised by the charm offensive of seasoned diplomats; it is plain for all to see. But China’s undisputed rise as a global economic power means it cannot disregard international treaties indefinitely. That means the Philippines, while standing up as best it can to the bully in the regional schoolyard, must make its case on law and diplomacy.
Misconceptions about the issue clutter the public discourse in the Philippines, however, and threaten to harden into conclusions. We owe it to ourselves – and senators and congressmen owe it to their constituents – to clarify the discussion, rather than confuse it.
In the first place, the increased chances of a confrontation with China over the Kalayaan Islands, that chain of islets to the west of Palawan that the Philippines claims, was not the saber-rattling idea of a President with declining satisfaction ratings. Media personalities identified with the Arroyo administration have advanced the suggestion that the entire issue is a wag-the-dog scenario. That kind of thinking reveals politics at its most parochial. If anything, Malacañang has been playing catch-up. China has been increasingly assertive in defending its claim to the area since last year; earlier this year, for example, China cut off the cables of two Vietnamese exploration vessels, one a mere 120 nautical miles off Vietnam’s coast.
Secondly, and contrary to the worldview of some politicians, the dispute does not involve the Philippines alone. Vietnam, in fact, has borne the brunt of renewed Chinese assertiveness, which helps explain why it conducted live-fire exercises off its coast last week. Japan has complained to China about Chinese naval war drills conducted near Okinawa and other islands the Japanese claim. Even Singapore, the lone regional player which is not a claimant, broke its diplomatic silence last week. As it prepared to receive China’s biggest “civilian maritime patrol ship,” it asked Beijing to clarify its territorial claims. “We have repeatedly said that we think it is in China’s own interests to clarify its claims in the South China Sea with more precision as the current ambiguity as to their extent has caused serious concerns in the international maritime community,” the Singapore foreign ministry said.
Third, and most crucial, the flexing of Chinese muscle is not about the Spratlys. It is not about the Paracel Islands, or any other territory included in the so-called nine-dotted line. It is, in fact, about the entire South China Sea which China calls, simply, the South Sea. Last July, in response to the forceful declaration by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that it was in the American national interest that “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea be maintained, the People’s Liberation Army issued an equally categorical statement. “China has indisputable sovereignty of the South Sea, and China has sufficient historical and legal backing” to support its claim, the military spokesman said. He added a proviso: “We will, in accordance with the demands of international law, respect the freedom of the passage of ships or aircraft from relevant countries.” The seemingly unilateral language of the American declaration should not confuse us; it is in the entire region’s best interest if freedom of navigation in the South China Sea remains a right, not a favor granted by Beijing.
Fourth, and most particular to our policymakers, the country may be weak economically and puny militarily, but in the looming confrontation with China it does have two advantages: It has international law on its side; and it can expect the support of the international community. China’s recent harassing of a Philippine exploration vessel happened off Recto Bank, only 80 nautical miles from Palawan but almost 500 from mainland China. Under either the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea or the 2002 Code of Conduct, Beijing will have a hard time explaining this aggressive behavior.
Columnist Raul Pangalangan asked the right geopolitical question: What has happened to China’s policy of “peaceful rise”? Its increasingly bellicose posture cannot be disguised by the charm offensive of seasoned diplomats; it is plain for all to see. But China’s undisputed rise as a global economic power means it cannot disregard international treaties indefinitely. That means the Philippines, while standing up as best it can to the bully in the regional schoolyard, must make its case on law and diplomacy.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
China has air superiority and so?
MANILA, Philippines - Should a shooting war break out over the disputed Spratly Islands, China could easily achieve air and sea superiority due to the increased focus Beijing has given to improving its force projection capabilities in the West Philippine Sea and South China Sea.
According to documents obtained by News5, China gradually developed its facilities on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands – making it an unsinkable aircraft carrier. The runway on Woody Island has been extended and hangars and fuel depots have been constructed, which enable China to base and deploy its latest generation of multi-role fighters.
From Woody Island, China will have no problem sending its warplanes to the Spratlys as this is well within the operational radius of its fighters. China’s multi-role fighters can reach as far Metro Manila.
Apart from the unsinkable aircraft carrier, China is scheduled to start sea trials of its first aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang.
Apart from China and the Philippines, the other claimants of the Spratlys are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. The Spratlys are believed to have huge deposits of oil, natural gas and minerals and is also considered a major fishing area.
The Paracel Islands are being disputed by China and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said defense modernization remains one of the priorities of the Aquino administration but stresses that they cannot just go on a shopping spree. In an interview with News5, the defense secretary admitted that internal security still had top priority even if the peace talks are ongoing with the communist insurgents and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Gazmin said they have adopted the process which they termed the “Defense System of Management.” He explained they are balancing the needs and requirements with the government’s capability to fund these.
“Our number 1 problem is the internal security operations,” Gazmin told News5 in an interview prior to the reports of Chinese intrusions. “The equipment needed to address internal security operations are a priority.”
“We do not need jets, we need helicopters, transports ... with endurance in air. In the navy, you don’t need blue water equipment – what you need is for island, transport and for use in flood and earthquake,” he added.
But Gazmin said this doesn’t mean they are giving up on modernization.
“My dream is to equip the soldiers with the most modern equipment to be able to address the needs of the times,” he stressed, adding he wants to leave as legacy the long wished for modernization of the Armed Forces.
Documents obtained by News5 show that China is estimated to have stationed eight aircraft variants on Woody Island, whose capabilities range from multi-role to air superiority to ground attack. The warplanes – which include the Sukhoi-27 fighter-bomber (NATO codename: FLANKER) and J-7 close support aircraft (NATO codename: AIRGUARD), which is China’s version of the Russian MIG21 (NATO codename: FISHBED) – have no trouble reaching the Spratlys as the disputed area is well within their operational radius.
However, one warplane can cover the whole island of Luzon, including Metro Manila.
The Sukhoi-30MKK (NATO codename: FLANKER G) is a long-range multi-role supersonic fighter with an operational radius of 1,620 nautical miles but can extend up to 2,800 nautical miles with inflight refueling. The FLANKER G is one latest generation fighter that carry out air superiority or ground attack missions. It is capable of carrying up to eight tons of weaponry, including TV guided air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles and air-to-air missiles.
Aside from Woody Island, China can also deploy its fighters from two other bases: Lingshui Airfield on Hainan Island and from Guanzhou. Also located on Hainan Island is a Chinese naval base, from where submarines can be deployed into the South China Sea.
But it is not only China that can deploy warplanes to the Spratlys. The other claimant countries – namely Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam – have fighters that can reach the Spratlys.
Malaysia is equipped with modern fighters and ground attack planes, such as US built multi-role fighter F/A-18D Hornet, the Russian built multi-role fighter MiG-29 (NATO codename: FULCRUM) and British built Hawk 108 ground attack plane. These aircraft variants are based at Labuan Air Base and the base’s location allows Malaysian aircraft to reach any point of the Philippines.
Taiwan’s Air Force is equipped with fighters, such as the improved version of the US built F5e/F Tiger II and the French built Mirage 2000-5. These warplanes are based at Taitung Air Base and allows Taiwan to reach the Spratlys as well as the whole of Luzon.
Vietnam is equipped with the same warplanes as China and from its bases in Bien Hoa and Phan Rang, it can reach the Spratlys.
Last month, there was a report of foreign aircraft that flew over the Spratlys which were widely believed to have been Chinese. However, the Philippine Air Force could not confirm the nationality as the planes flew at a high altitude.
China is nearing completion of its first true aircraft carrier, with sea trials scheduled in the coming months. The Chinese aircraft carrier is a Kuznetzov-class carrier, which was bought at an auction in 1998 from Ukraine. A private Chinese firm bought the uncompleted carrier, named Varyag, for $20 million and had planned to make it a floating hotel, amusement and gambling destination in Macau.
China took possession of the Varyag when the hotel-gambling project folded. The Varyag was brought to a shipyard in Dalian, China where it was used as a basis to build its first aircraft carrier. The Chinese aircraft carrier was named the Shi Lang, after a Chinese admiral that conquered Taiwan in 1681.
Unlike US aircraft carriers, the Shi Lang will not be equipped with steam catapults but with a ski jump to launch its planes. The Shi Lang will be equipped with 30 Sukhoi-33 carrier borne multi-role fighter (NATO codename: FLANKER D) as well as with anti-submarine warfare helicopters.
A 2010 US Defense Department report to the US Congress said China has begun training 50 pilots to operate fixed wing aircraft from an aircraft carrier. The same report said China’s buildup in the South China Sea “are related to securing its extensive sovereignty claims in the region as they relate to exploiting regional natural resources.”
“A stronger regional presence would position China for force projection, blockade and surveillance operations to influence the critical sea lanes in the region, through which some 50 percent of global merchant traffic passes,” the US Defense Department stated.
The report also highlighted: “Such an increased presence including surface, sub-surface and airborne platforms, and possibly one or more of China’s future aircraft carriers, would provide the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) with an enhanced extended range power projection capability and could alter regional balances, disrupting the delicate status quo established by the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.”
According to documents obtained by News5, China gradually developed its facilities on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands – making it an unsinkable aircraft carrier. The runway on Woody Island has been extended and hangars and fuel depots have been constructed, which enable China to base and deploy its latest generation of multi-role fighters.
From Woody Island, China will have no problem sending its warplanes to the Spratlys as this is well within the operational radius of its fighters. China’s multi-role fighters can reach as far Metro Manila.
Apart from the unsinkable aircraft carrier, China is scheduled to start sea trials of its first aircraft carrier, the Shi Lang.
Apart from China and the Philippines, the other claimants of the Spratlys are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. The Spratlys are believed to have huge deposits of oil, natural gas and minerals and is also considered a major fishing area.
The Paracel Islands are being disputed by China and Vietnam.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said defense modernization remains one of the priorities of the Aquino administration but stresses that they cannot just go on a shopping spree. In an interview with News5, the defense secretary admitted that internal security still had top priority even if the peace talks are ongoing with the communist insurgents and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.
Gazmin said they have adopted the process which they termed the “Defense System of Management.” He explained they are balancing the needs and requirements with the government’s capability to fund these.
“Our number 1 problem is the internal security operations,” Gazmin told News5 in an interview prior to the reports of Chinese intrusions. “The equipment needed to address internal security operations are a priority.”
“We do not need jets, we need helicopters, transports ... with endurance in air. In the navy, you don’t need blue water equipment – what you need is for island, transport and for use in flood and earthquake,” he added.
But Gazmin said this doesn’t mean they are giving up on modernization.
“My dream is to equip the soldiers with the most modern equipment to be able to address the needs of the times,” he stressed, adding he wants to leave as legacy the long wished for modernization of the Armed Forces.
Documents obtained by News5 show that China is estimated to have stationed eight aircraft variants on Woody Island, whose capabilities range from multi-role to air superiority to ground attack. The warplanes – which include the Sukhoi-27 fighter-bomber (NATO codename: FLANKER) and J-7 close support aircraft (NATO codename: AIRGUARD), which is China’s version of the Russian MIG21 (NATO codename: FISHBED) – have no trouble reaching the Spratlys as the disputed area is well within their operational radius.
However, one warplane can cover the whole island of Luzon, including Metro Manila.
The Sukhoi-30MKK (NATO codename: FLANKER G) is a long-range multi-role supersonic fighter with an operational radius of 1,620 nautical miles but can extend up to 2,800 nautical miles with inflight refueling. The FLANKER G is one latest generation fighter that carry out air superiority or ground attack missions. It is capable of carrying up to eight tons of weaponry, including TV guided air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles and air-to-air missiles.
Aside from Woody Island, China can also deploy its fighters from two other bases: Lingshui Airfield on Hainan Island and from Guanzhou. Also located on Hainan Island is a Chinese naval base, from where submarines can be deployed into the South China Sea.
But it is not only China that can deploy warplanes to the Spratlys. The other claimant countries – namely Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam – have fighters that can reach the Spratlys.
Malaysia is equipped with modern fighters and ground attack planes, such as US built multi-role fighter F/A-18D Hornet, the Russian built multi-role fighter MiG-29 (NATO codename: FULCRUM) and British built Hawk 108 ground attack plane. These aircraft variants are based at Labuan Air Base and the base’s location allows Malaysian aircraft to reach any point of the Philippines.
Taiwan’s Air Force is equipped with fighters, such as the improved version of the US built F5e/F Tiger II and the French built Mirage 2000-5. These warplanes are based at Taitung Air Base and allows Taiwan to reach the Spratlys as well as the whole of Luzon.
Vietnam is equipped with the same warplanes as China and from its bases in Bien Hoa and Phan Rang, it can reach the Spratlys.
Last month, there was a report of foreign aircraft that flew over the Spratlys which were widely believed to have been Chinese. However, the Philippine Air Force could not confirm the nationality as the planes flew at a high altitude.
China is nearing completion of its first true aircraft carrier, with sea trials scheduled in the coming months. The Chinese aircraft carrier is a Kuznetzov-class carrier, which was bought at an auction in 1998 from Ukraine. A private Chinese firm bought the uncompleted carrier, named Varyag, for $20 million and had planned to make it a floating hotel, amusement and gambling destination in Macau.
China took possession of the Varyag when the hotel-gambling project folded. The Varyag was brought to a shipyard in Dalian, China where it was used as a basis to build its first aircraft carrier. The Chinese aircraft carrier was named the Shi Lang, after a Chinese admiral that conquered Taiwan in 1681.
Unlike US aircraft carriers, the Shi Lang will not be equipped with steam catapults but with a ski jump to launch its planes. The Shi Lang will be equipped with 30 Sukhoi-33 carrier borne multi-role fighter (NATO codename: FLANKER D) as well as with anti-submarine warfare helicopters.
A 2010 US Defense Department report to the US Congress said China has begun training 50 pilots to operate fixed wing aircraft from an aircraft carrier. The same report said China’s buildup in the South China Sea “are related to securing its extensive sovereignty claims in the region as they relate to exploiting regional natural resources.”
“A stronger regional presence would position China for force projection, blockade and surveillance operations to influence the critical sea lanes in the region, through which some 50 percent of global merchant traffic passes,” the US Defense Department stated.
The report also highlighted: “Such an increased presence including surface, sub-surface and airborne platforms, and possibly one or more of China’s future aircraft carriers, would provide the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) with an enhanced extended range power projection capability and could alter regional balances, disrupting the delicate status quo established by the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.”
Spratly Islands Bone of Contention Among Philippines, China, Vietnam
With the attention of the Obama administration fixed on the Middle East, yet another international crisis is threatening to disturb the peace of the world, this time around the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. The Spratly Islands are the focus of a territorial dispute between the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, among other countries. At hazard are vast deposits of oil and gas as well as a lush commercial fishing zone.
While the Philippines is dedicated to the peaceful resolution of the dispute, which goes back decades, the country is also committed to building up naval strength to increase its capacity to defend its territorial claims if necessary. It has also called upon the United States to help it defend its claims.
A naval conflict in the South China Sea, which the Philippines refer to as the West Philippine Sea and Vietnam called the East Sea, would not be in the interests of anyone. While China has been aggressive in asserting what it considers its national interests, it is not yet capable of asserting sovereignty over the Spratly Islands should it be opposed by the US 7th Fleet. Embroiled in a multi front war in the Middle East and Central Asia, the United States is not interested in participating in a fight in the Far East, especially with another nuclear power.
The smaller countries with claims over the Spratly Islands, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as Taiwan and Malaya, would be caught in the middle of a super power clash should it occur.
What the basis of a diplomatic settlement of the Spratly dispute is not clear. Ceding the islands to one country or another would leave all the other claimants aggrieved and motivated possibly to assert their own claims by force. That would mean that some kind of permanent presence, likely American led, would have to be stationed in the Spratly Islands to keep the peace.
Alternatively, some kind of joint sovereignty arrangement could be worked out in which all or most of the claimant countries would be partners in the development of the Spratly Island resources and sharing the profits. That would have the virtue of not leaving any party to the dispute unsatisfied, tamping down on the possibility of military conflict, while at the same time binding the parties together to cooperate rather than fight to enjoy the fish and hydrocarbon resources of the Spratly Islands.
While the Philippines is dedicated to the peaceful resolution of the dispute, which goes back decades, the country is also committed to building up naval strength to increase its capacity to defend its territorial claims if necessary. It has also called upon the United States to help it defend its claims.
A naval conflict in the South China Sea, which the Philippines refer to as the West Philippine Sea and Vietnam called the East Sea, would not be in the interests of anyone. While China has been aggressive in asserting what it considers its national interests, it is not yet capable of asserting sovereignty over the Spratly Islands should it be opposed by the US 7th Fleet. Embroiled in a multi front war in the Middle East and Central Asia, the United States is not interested in participating in a fight in the Far East, especially with another nuclear power.
The smaller countries with claims over the Spratly Islands, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, as well as Taiwan and Malaya, would be caught in the middle of a super power clash should it occur.
What the basis of a diplomatic settlement of the Spratly dispute is not clear. Ceding the islands to one country or another would leave all the other claimants aggrieved and motivated possibly to assert their own claims by force. That would mean that some kind of permanent presence, likely American led, would have to be stationed in the Spratly Islands to keep the peace.
Alternatively, some kind of joint sovereignty arrangement could be worked out in which all or most of the claimant countries would be partners in the development of the Spratly Island resources and sharing the profits. That would have the virtue of not leaving any party to the dispute unsatisfied, tamping down on the possibility of military conflict, while at the same time binding the parties together to cooperate rather than fight to enjoy the fish and hydrocarbon resources of the Spratly Islands.
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