The Philippines will have its own maritime militia in case China sends its maritime militia to the West Philippine Sea to harass Filipino fishermen, the Philippine naval commander said.
Philippine Navy Commander VADM Giovanni Bacordo, testifying before the Senate on Monday (Oct. 12, 2020), said, “This is our counterpart to the Chinese maritime militia.” He said the Philippine Navy plans to send the armed militia to the West Philippine Sea to collect data and provide protection to Filipino fishermen fishing there.
Philippine news website Rappler reported on Tuesday that Lt. Gen. Bacodo said in a phone interview the same day that after completing the training organized by the Navy, a maritime militia unit of about 120 men would be integrated into the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Area Command to operate in the Calayan Islands, which China calls the Spratly Islands. Another maritime militia unit of the same size will be integrated into the Northern Command and will operate near Panatag Reef, which China refers to as Huangyan Island.
Bacdo said the Philippine maritime militia, though currently numbering just over 200, will be considered for expansion by the Armed Forces of the Philippines depending on the situation.
China has often used semi-military and demilitarized means in its efforts to strengthen its control of the South China Sea, including the creation of a maritime militia network with a large number of fishermen and fishing boats. This large paramilitary force is used in conjunction with the Navy to advance Beijing’s strategy in the South China Sea.
These Chinese fishing vessels often harass and even attack Philippine and Vietnamese fishing vessels in disputed waters.
In June 2019, a Chinese fishing vessel rammed a Filipino fishing vessel near Reed Shoal (known as Li Le Bank in China) in the Spratly Islands (known as Nansha Islands in China). Philippine media reported that 22 Filipino crew members fell into the sea and were rescued by a nearby Vietnamese vessel, but the Chinese vessel left the scene of the incident without rendering aid.
Yao Cheng, a former Chinese naval commander, said on the Voice of America television program in May 2019 that China’s maritime militia is a continuation of the people’s war concept, is part of the armed forces, and maintains close ties with the naval fleet.
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