The Philippines has indicated its aim to assert authority over nearby waters in response to China's goals of dogged expansion.
"This strategic action is designed to be self-sustaining and will not require ongoing directives," Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in a statement Friday, without elaborating on the level of operational independence commanders will have.
Territorial disputes oppose China and the Southeast Asian nation, a U.S. defense treaty ally, over areas within the latter's internationally recognized exclusive economic zone (EEZ). China's expansive claims over the South China Sea conflict with those of the Philippines as well as several other neighboring coastal states.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has vowed not to cede "one square inch" to foreign powers, in a clear reference to Beijing.
When unveiling the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) in January, Teodoro called it a "forward-looking" defense concept that would allow the country to project military power into areas the country's constitution dictates must be protected.
"In simpler terms, our goal is to enhance our capabilities to defend our territory and exclusive economic zone, ensuring that future Filipino generations can enjoy the resources within our domain," he said Friday.
Newsweek has contacted the Philippine Department of Foreign affairs as well as the Chinese Foreign Ministry for comment.
The announcement comes amid rising tensions within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile (230-mile) EEZ, within which maritime law grants it access to natural resources.
A routine Philippine mission to resupply and rotate troops at Second Thomas Shoal, a military outpost in the Spratly Islands, was intercepted by a blockade of Chinese ships on March 5. The encounter led to a collision and the Chinese coast guard targeting a Philippine supply boat with water cannons, which Manila said resulted in minor injuries to four crew members.
Each country accused the other of unsafe conduct, with Beijing condemning the mission as a breach of its sovereignty. Second Thomas Shoal sits about 100 miles from the nearest Philippine province and nearly 700 from Chinese shores.
At the Chinese Communist Party's annual congress on Thursday March 7, President Xi Jinping called on the Chinese military and People's Armed Police to "coordinate preparations for military struggles at sea."
Article 4 of the U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty stipulates mutual defense obligations in the event of an external attack, a commitment the U.S. State Department recently reaffirmed applies to incidents occurring in the South China Sea.
The Philippine president indicated that invoking the treaty in the current context is premature, suggesting a measured approach to the unfolding maritime tensions.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Micah McCartney is a reporter for Newsweek based in Taipei, Taiwan. He covers U.S.-China relations, East Asian and Southeast Asian ... Read more
