Military won’t renege in defending sovereignty amid Chinese activities in SCS, says official

May 21, 2018

The Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) vowed on Monday to protect the country's territorial integrity amid China's ongoing militarization in the disputed South China Sea.

AFP spokesman Col. Edgard Arevalo said that the military continues to conduct air and maritime patrols in the Philippine-claimed areas in the disputed waters.

He said that the AFP has been forwarding reports to the higher officials of whatever developments in the South China Sea.

"We can assure our people that your armed forces will never renege in its constitutional obligation to help secure and defend the territorial integrity of our nation,” he said.

However, Arevalo refused to give further details about the result of the recent maritime patrol operation conducted in the South China Sea.

“There are matters of operational security that we cannot reveal to you because these (need) to be kept in confidence, otherwise we might be violating operational security,” he said.

Recently, China landed its bombers in its occupied area in the South China Sea. It also reportedly deployed missiles in its artificial islands, which are also claimed by the Philippines. Robina Asido/DMS