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—The country has to be prepared, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said as he pointed out that external threats have become more pronounced.
But what if defense lines were already weakened even before the start of an open conflict?
Joshua Espeña, a defense analyst, had this stressed as Filipinos now talk about the extent of China’s presence in the Philippines–even in local governments, businesses, and educational institutions.
Why?
Espeña, vice president of the think tank International Development and Security Cooperation (IDSC), told INQUIRER.net that “infiltration has always been a playbook for belligerents.”
Based on data from the Philippine Navy (PN), 146 Chinese vessels were seen in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) from June 4 to 10 — most, or 108, were of China’s maritime militia.
The rest, 38, were of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and China Coast Guard (CCG), higher than the 20 from May 28 to June 3. Some 105 maritime militia vessels were seen then by the PN.
“The external threat now has become more pronounced,” Marcos said as he stressed not only the conflict over the WPS, but even the tension between China and Taiwan.
But threats could also come from within, considering the extent of China’s presence in the country, especially in Pogos, or Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations, schools, and even local governments.
Chester Cabalza, a defense analyst and president of IDSC, told INQUIRER.net that China certainly started drawing its grand strategy of unrestricted or irregular warfare.
This, he said, has the end goal of establishing hybrid and unconventional war strategies to secure its presence in the Philippines, stressing that it would be easier for China to occupy the Philippines if its forces have already penetrated the country.
