MANILA, Philippines — The United States will deploy four fast-response cutters as it “actively partners” with the Philippine Coast Guard in patrolling the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the West Philippine Sea.
US Undersecretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby disclosed this in his speech on Monday at a forum organized by the Stratbase Group.
“We are backing up [our security cooperation] with concrete, visible support, including the rotational deployment of four fast-response cutters to actively partner with the Philippine Coast Guard in patrolling and securing your exclusive economic zone,” he said.
According to the US Coast Guard, fast-response cutters are 47-meter (154-foot) vessels used for various patrols, search and rescue, as well as maritime defense.
Colby did not provide further details such as when the cutters are due to arrive in the country.
The US official met President Marcos earlier in the day, as he reaffirmed US commitment to the Indo-Pacific.
‘Pro-China’
This is Colby’s first trip to Southeast Asia in his official capacity. He will travel next to Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.
Also on Monday, Malacañang responded to what it called Vice President Sara Duterte’s “laughable” suggestion that the President himself could be suspected as a pro-China official.
Duterte was responding last week to Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr.’s view that Filipino officials who are siding with China should resign from their posts.
She said that without any names mentioned or any list about such officials, Marcos himself could be suspected of being one of them.
The Vice President’s brother, Davao City Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, had also criticized Teodoro for “demonizing China” and imposing a loyalty test among Filipino officials.
Palace press officer Claire Castro, in response, said: “We don’t know why only the two siblings are the ones speaking out. Sometimes, when something hits close to home, even if you’re not specifically mentioned, you most probably react to it.”
The Vice President, who has been criticized for her silence on recent controversies such as the so-called “monkey video” released by Beijing’s state media, had said in June that she had been repeatedly tagged by the Marcos administration as being pro-China.
“They’ve been pushing that narrative for a long time, that I’m pro-China. I’m not pro any country at all,” she said. /cb
The post US to deploy cutters, assist PCG in EEZ patrol appeared first on Inquirer.net.
