By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter
PHILIPPINE congressmen on Tuesday sought a higher defense budget for 2024 amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea.
“We must take proactive measures to enhance our defense capabilities and ensure that we have the necessary resources,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez said in a statement.
Next year’s proposed budget for the Department of National Defense increased by 14% to P232.2 billion.
The Philippines on Sunday accused China’s coast guard of blocking and shooting water cannons at its vessels, condemning the “excessive and offensive actions.”
Countries including Japan, China, Australia, the United Kingdom and the European Union also called out China on the incident.
Iloilo Rep. Raul C. Tupas, who heads the House National Defense and Security committee, called the incident a “brazen attack.”
“Restraint in dealing with maritime disputes must be observed by the Chinese Coast Guard rather than resorting to means that are unnecessary, uncalled for and may result in escalating tensions,” he said.
Senator Maria Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos sought an explanation from Chinese officials about the incident.
“It is urgent for the [Philippine] Foreign Affairs and Defense departments to demand an explanation from their Chinese counterparts,” Ms. Marcos, who heads the Senate foreign relations committee, said in a statement.
The Philippine Coast Guard vessels were escorting two supply boats charted by the Philippine Navy to deliver food and other supplies to Filipino troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, a submerged reef where a handful of its troops live on a rusty World War II-era US ship that was intentionally grounded in 1999.
The Chinese coast guard’s “dangerous maneuvers” prevented a second boat from unloading the supplies and completing the mission for BRP Sierra Madre, the grounded warship, the Philippine military said.
Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri on Monday pushed the approval of several bills that seek to boost the country’s external defense, including the proposed Philippine Defense Industry Development Act.
These measures are key to government efforts to build a credible and concrete defense program, he told a hearing.
DEFENSE INDUSTRY
“Amidst growing national concern over our sovereignty, it is very timely that we now consider the merits of revitalizing our self-reliant defense posture program and building a local defense industry that would supply the needs of our Armed Forces,” Mr. Zubiri said.
He added that while the Philippines values its defense cooperation with its foreign allies, it could not afford to rely on them entirely. “Overreliance on our allies leaves us on the back foot — always waiting, and always dependent on what they will supply us with.”
The Senate chief said it’s a pity the Philippines has to beg other countries for arms and ammunition. “Our brave men and women of the Armed Forces deserve more and deserve better.”
Mr. Zubiri said the Philippines is among the top importers of arms in Southeast Asia, having spent $338 million (P19 billion) on imports in 2021 — next only to Singapore ($361 million) and Myanmar ($394 million).
“Unlike Singapore, however, we have a great deal of resources at our disposal. And unlike Myanmar, we are not operating under military rule. So why is our arms importation nearly as costly as theirs?” he asked.
The lawmaker said a closer comparison would be Indonesia, which in 2021 allotted 3.9% of its spending toward military expenditure, not far from the Philippines’ 3.8% military budget. And yet Indonesia’s arms imports were only $68 million.
Mr. Zubiri said Indonesia has a big arm manufacturing industry, so it imports less.
Indonesia’s defense industry has been growing exponentially, in fact, that the Indonesian government is now expecting to join the world’s 50 top defense companies by next year, he added.
He said they discussed this with President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., who is keen on boosting the country’s defense industry.
Meanwhile, Senator Rafael “Raffy” T. Tulfo asked the government to stop sending high-ranking officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to China to study and train at its military academy.
During a defense hearing on Monday, the senator said the program, which paid for by China, is a complete insult to Filipinos who continue to be bullied by China.
Mr. Tulfo earlier urged the Armed Forces to remove the cellular tower of a telecommunication company inside the military camp that is largely owned by the Chinese government.
He said some of the Philippine military’s equipment including computer hardware are donated by the Chinese government.
“It’s a major blunder if our Armed Forces continues to patronize things from the Chinese government,” he said in a statement in Filipino.
The lawmaker said he would file a Senate resolution in-aid of legislation to investigate these “alarming practices.” — with Norman P. Aquino