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“We can’t continue to be like this. Some people have this wrong notion that we just sit back and nothing will happen to us. We may wake up one day, and we won’t have a country any more,” Romualdez warned.
The plan, announced on Sunday, stresses the “need for operational guidelines” and the urgent need for existing mechanisms to be enhanced to deter cyberattacks.
Observers have also speculated that the main reason behind the two-day summit is to strengthen maritime defensive efforts to counter China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the Asia-Pacific.
The April 22 to May 8 drills involve some 16,000 soldiers and showcase Manila’s new Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), a strategy that aims to defend the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Under the directive, the Philippine president authorised the council to accept “donations, contributions, grants, bequests or gifts” from allies to improve maritime security.
Analysts expressed concern over the growing military posturing, emphasising the urgent need for diplomatic negotiations alongside bolstering defence capabilities to prevent the dispute from spiralling into open conflict.
“This is not a secret deal. This was made public by former Foreign Affairs [Secretary] Alan Peter Cayetano, who said before that if there are no repairs, no improvements on the ship, no problem in Ayungin [the Philippines’ term for the Second Thomas Shoal] … only water and food will be supplied,” Roque said.
Everything was calm until a Chinese coastguard (CCG) ship backed by a suspected militia vessel, approached and blocked the resupply boat, prompting a Philippine captain to look for a way around them.