Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) — The Philippine Navy chief defended the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to forbid Filipino troops from joining naval drills in the South China Sea, citing an 18-year old agreement between China and Southeast Asian states “to promote a peaceful, friendly and harmonious environment” in the disputed territory.
Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Giovanni Carlo Bacordo was referring to the Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the South China Sea, which China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations signed in Phnom Penh in 2002.
In a virtual media forum organized by the Foreign Correspondents Association in the Philippines (FOCAP) on Monday, Bacordo pointed to provision number 5 of the DOC to justify the President’s order, which states, “the parties undertake self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability” in the region.
He noted that the United States, Japan and Australia, whose naval units held a two-day “trilateral exercise” in the South China Sea last July 21, are not signatories to the DOC.
“Our guiding principle here is adherence to the rule of law. So what the President and the Secretary of National Defense pronounced is consistent with this 2002 doctrine,” Bacordo explained.
When asked if the Philippines can defend its interests in the South China Sea without relying on the U.S. and its allies, Bacordo said the Philippines can “leverage” on its “strategic partnerships” as platforms to discuss contentious issues related to the disputed territories.
“We may not invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) which is already at the extremes,” Bacordo explained.
Bacordo referred the “strategic partnerships” to the meetings among navy chiefs within the ASEAN, as well as the Western Pacific Naval Symposium, to which China is among the 31-member navies.
“Whatever violations come up, it’s usually discussed during these navy chiefs meeting,” he said.
