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THE Philippines will not make a move that would
provoke other claimant countries in the Kalayaan Island Group or
Spratly Islands into launching an offensive against the Philippines.
This was the assurance given by
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. in connection with
the setting up of a communication facility in Pag-asa Island (Thitu
Island), the largest island occupied by the Philippines in the
contested Spratly Islands group.
Esperon made it clear that the
installation of the satellite communication system in the island did
not violate the Code of Conduct signed between the Philippines and
the other claimant countries in 2002.
The Philippines together with
China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei signed the code to reduce
tension and stop each country from increasing its military forces in
the area.
The equipment installed uses VSAT
(very small aperture terminal) technology. It will be directly
connected to the military’s headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo and
will be used solely for “command and control” of troops within
the island.
“Communications, information is
very important, as we all know, that’s why we have the VSAT
[equipment],” Esperon said.
Esperon was quick to dismiss the
possibility that the military would use the equipment for
intelligence gathering in the area. He even admitted that the
country cannot afford to wage war with other claimant countries,
because the Philippines does not have enough firepower to last a
single day in battle.
What the Philippines can do is to
resort to diplomacy and support the efforts from the United Nations
to ease tension in the area.
Besides Pag-asa Island, the
Philippine is also occupying seven other islands at the Spratlys
namely Patag Island (Flat Island); Lawak Island (Nansha); Likas
Island (West York); Panata (Lankiam Cay); Kota Island (Loita
Island); and Rizal Reef (Commodore Reef).
Some 60 soldiers are deployed in
the islands and the majority are in Pag-asa.
--Jefferson Antiporda
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