AFP chief: Chinese military structures in Spratlys not new
By Jun Pasaylo Home Updated May 24, 2011 03:46 PM 3 comments to this post
MANILA, Philippines – The chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) admitted today that he is aware of China’s military structures in the disputed Spratly Island, but pointed out that those are not newly-created facilities.
In an interview with the media after Philippine Navy anniversary today, AFP chief Eduardo Oban said China’s “garrisons and outposts” could have been established in the 1990s.
“The start could probably circa 90s and they proceeded towards 2000,” he noted.
“We are aware of the structures, (but) they are not new,” he added, while citing the need for the country to “upgrade our capability and capacity for territorial defense.”
He also said that they are planning to acquire surveillance equipment to boost the country’s defense capability against external threat. Among the equipment that he mentioned were 3D land-and-sea radar systems, maritime aircraft carrier, and airborne radar system.
The AFP chief also pointed out that the military is augmenting its security presence on Reed Bank, while vowing that they would not allow foreign intrusions in the area.
“That’s within our territorial waters. We have to maintain our presence there, within our territory we continue to conduct maritime patrol. We will not allow (foreign intrusions) within our territory,” he cited.
He also said the Philippine Navy sea crafts and the Philippine Air Force air assets are conducting maritime patrol in the area “on a periodic basis.”
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