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AFP tests own flares as Philippines focuses on ‘deterring armed attack’

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Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) tested its own flares in the West Philippine Sea last week after China used similar devices against Philippine planes conducting air patrols in the area, AFP chief Romeo Brawner Jr. said on Monday.</p><p>Flares are commonly used for signalling and illumination and, in combat situations, as countermeasures against heat-seeking missiles. </p><p>Philippine authorities said China&#x27;s use of the flares put Philippine Air Force and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources planes on patrol over the West Philippine Sea.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/khOo_dmnJLc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>“We have that capability but then again, because we follow international laws, hindi natin ginagawa &#x27;yun sa iba (we do not use them against others),” Gen. Brawner told reporters on the sidelines of a commemoration event on National Heroes’ Day.</p><p>Aside from the Philippines, China has also been using its flares against US and Australian aircraft flying over the South China Sea, the AFP chief said.</p><p>“It is an escalation, definitely,” Brawner said of the harassment of Philippine aircraft.</p><p>“This is a form of warning the other side, but for us it is a dangerous maneuver kasi kapag tumama yung flare sa atin (if the flares hit our planes), that is very dangerous,” he said.</p><p>“Puwedeng sumabog yung eroplano natin or puwedeng masunog ang barko kapag tumama ang flares,” he added.</p><p>(Our planes might explode or the flares could cause a fire aboard our ships)</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/25/us-japan-call-out-china-s-use-of-flares-against-bfar-plane-1123">READ: US, Japan call out China&#x27;s use of flares against BFAR plane</a></div><p>The AFP will continue deploying its assets in the West Philippine Sea as international law guarantees the Philippines’ sovereignty and sovereign rights in the area, the general said.</p><p>He said the Philippines needs to maintain its presence in the West Philippine Sea despite China&#x27;s aggressive tactics within Philippine waters.</p><p>“&#x27;Yun ang importante, ang presence natin dahil once we give up, once na umalis tayo diyan sa WPS, we dont know what will happen, baka gawing mga artificial islands ulit yung Escoda Shoal kaya kailangan nandoon tayo,” he said.</p><p>(It&#x27;s important to maintain our presence because we don&#x27;t know what will happen if we leave the WPS. Escoda Shoal might be reclaimed into artificial islands, so we need to be there to prevent that.)</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/25/bfar-assessing-damage-to-vessel-after-ramming-incident-with-chinese-ships-1957">READ: BFAR assessing damage to vessel after ramming incident with Chinese ships</a></div><div><strong>DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS FOCUS IS ON DETERRING ARMED ATTACK<br/></strong></div><p>In a separate interview, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said the Philippines has <span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(65, 65, 65);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">to &quot;expect these kinds of behavior from China&quot; and anticipate similar tactics in the future.</span></p><p>“Patiently, paulit-ulit na nating sinasabi na ito ay ilegal pero wala silang pakialam (We repeatedly tell them that what they are doing is illegal but they do not seem to care),” he said.</p><p>Beijing routinely blames incidents in the West Philippine Sea — the part of the South China Sea in the Philippines&#x27; exclusive economic zone — on the Philippines and accuses the country&#x27;s security partners of increasing tensions in the region.</p><p>Apart from the use of flares, Chinese vessels have also used dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships, including the use of water cannons and deliberate ramming.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/20/ph-eyes-case-over-ramming-of-pcg-ships-but-will-not-escalate-tensions-in-west-philippine-sea-1406">READ: PH eyes case over ramming of PCG ships but will not escalate tensions in West Philippine Sea</a></div><p>“Let us deter an armed attack and that is what I’m focused on doing… Let’s make ourselves strong enough so that does not happen,” Teodoro said Monday. He said the DND is “doing a lot of things,” towards that, but did not give details.</p><p>In the meantime, Brawner said, the AFP will “continue our legitimate military operations in the area because these are legal operations.” </p><p>He said the operations are meant to maintain peace in Philippine waters and to assert sovereignty and sovereign rights in the area.</p><p>“We have the international law behind us. Tayo ay sumusunod sa batas.”</p><p>An armed attack is expected to trigger the Mutual Defense Treaty that the Philippines has had with the United States since 1951.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hZYzmT2LKOs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>“We have that capability but then again, because we follow international laws, hindi natin ginagawa 'yun sa iba (we do not use them against others),” Gen. Brawner said.</p>

“We have that capability but then again, because we follow international laws, hindi natin ginagawa 'yun sa iba (we do not use them against others),” Gen. Brawner said.