Protecting our Maritime Borders

June 16, 2018 Opinion Sideglance

The recent complaint by our Filipino fishermen of Chinese coast guards confiscating their catch in disputed areas in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) reveals the inability of the country’s naval forces in effectively patrolling our maritime borders.

The issue is not whether China really owns these contested islands, shoals and reefs in the Spratly Islands, this is matter that is best left to peaceful diplomatic negotiations, but whether the Philippine Navy has enough resources and material to patrol the porous borders of our archipelago.

A quick look at the internet bares the current naval assets of the Philippines which stands at a measly number of 119 which includes 4 frigates 10 corvettes and 35 patrol craft. The Philippine navy still has no aircraft carrier, no destroyers, no submarines and no marine warfare vessels of any kind. And yet we know for a fact that the country is an aggrupation of islands surrounded and interconnected by water. (info: GlobalFirepower.com)

Even without the above statistics it is obvious that since out country is one that is practically encircled by water our military needs all available naval assets not only to secure our borders  but also to project our sovereignty in territories which we own or claim and manifest our jurisdiction over these areas.

This begs the question of whether the country can, given its sad state of naval assets, effectively intervene in any maritime dispute where the opponent may have in its arsenal and disposal a number of submarines, destroyers and even aircraft carriers to carry out its directive.

While it is true that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is embarking on a massive modernization program to acquire new and modern military equipment from other states it seems to be going at a snail’s pace and given the expansionist ploys of other countries such as China it would do well to obtain naval armaments and materiel with a sense of urgency.

If we only have the naval strength to confront aggressors intruding into our territories then we could easily offer protection and peace of mind for our fisherfolk who depend on the bounty from the seas to make ends meet.

There is no other time but now to upgrade and modernize our naval forces. It is only when we reach a stage of equality with other nations, in terms of naval strength, can we effectively respond to complaints of harassment and threats against our fishermen who risk their lives going far out to the sea to catch fish.

It is also important to overhaul the present system of protecting our borders by enhancing and augmenting personnel and equipment in so called naval ports, bases and stations and this can be done by having more boats, destroyers, frigates, naval planes, helicopters, submarines, naval personnel and perhaps may be even an aircraft carrier in the near future so that our maritime borders will be better protected and our sovereignty established.