[ad_1]
The Philippines is building a larger sea-based military force, known as the Cafgu Active Auxiliary Service, to defend waters it believes are under its control, analysts say. It follows similar moves by China in the region, with small ships increasingly being used to ‘meddle’ in waters claimed by the Philippines, according to the Asia Times.
Delfin Lorenzana, the Philippine Defense Secretary, said in a recent government speech that China uses “civil militias” that “act like fishermen” but are part of China’s navy.
However, it is believed that the Philippine move could increase the risk of conflict in the South China Sea.
This is despite the fact that they will not be armed. The commander of the Philippine Fleet, Loumer Bernabe, told reporters recently: “Definitely, they will not be handed firearms,” according to the Philippine media outlet Inquirer.
Instead, sea-based forces would receive surveillance equipment and communications technology.
Meanwhile, Professor Jay Batongbacal, an expert on maritime affairs at the University of the Philippines School of Law, told the news outlet that CAAS forces should be carefully monitored to avoid unnecessary tensions in the region.
He added: “Otherwise, you could end up with vigilante groups or adventurers, who are not the kind of people you want in a tense region in dispute.”
READ: South China Sea: Philippines vows to ‘swarm’ with fishing boats in attack on China
The head of the Navy said: “It is an interim measure to fill where we are not, where we are not the Navy and where the Coast Guard is not.”
It is understood that CAAS forces will be trained by the nation’s Navy.
In 2016, Reuters reported that China was providing military training to some of its fishing fleets as they prepared to sail to the South China Sea.
It included instructions for fishing vessels to collect information on vessels from other nations.
An anonymous adviser to the government of the Chinese island of Hainan said the “maritime militia” would be “protecting the interests of our country.”
Some of the boats were even reported to have small arms, Hainan fishermen reportedly said.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has said it will “flood” fishing waters with boats after a government official said China is doing the same.
Teodoro Locsin, Philippine Foreign Secretary, said this week: “We are invading the areas because that is the Chinese strategy: to invade the areas also with fishing boats.”
He also said the country could turn to the United States for help if necessary.
The World Wide Fund for Nature warned that nearly 30 percent of commercially caught fish stocks are overfished.
[ad_2]
