PH uses satellite for first time over disputed waters, taps European firm
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Tue, 23 Jul 2019 12:27:33 +0000
THE Philippines for the first time tapped the satellite services of a European company to boost its monitoring capabilities over the disputed waters, National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the post-State of the Nation Address (SONA) briefing in Quezon City, Esperon said the company, which he did not identify, would start its 24/7 operations in September that would include monitoring the Kalayaan Group of Islands and providing data that the Philippines may use in overseeing other activities in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
Esperon said the government would be paying for the satellite services but did not disclose the amount.
In contrast to President Rodrigo Duterte’s SONA where he said that China was “in possession” of the West Philippine Sea, Esperon countered that China was only “in position,” particularly at the Scarborough Shoal and on its artificial islands.
Esperon said other projects that the government has undertaken to protect its claims over the disputed waters were the construction of five lighthouses in the area of Solas (the Safety of Life at Sea).
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in the same Post-SONA conference said the President may be referring to the Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal when he said that China was “in possession” of the West Philippine Sea.
The Defense chief also said that under the Duterte administration, Filipinos have been able to fish at the Scarborough Shoal, which had been declared as a traditional fishing ground under the ruling of the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague, Netherlands.
China built military facilities and installed equipment at Fiery Cross (Kagitingan) Reef, Subi (Zamora) Reef and Mischief (Kagitingan) Reef.
These “tremendous” build-ups from 2012 to 2016 all happened under the watch of former president Benigno Aquino 3rd, Esperon said.
“Positionally, they have the big advantage because of the naval forces in the artificial islands. Fiery Cross is twice bigger than Bonifacio Global City and reclaimed that in 2016. They have positional advantage and equipment to enforce their position,” Esperon said.
“Our response is to strengthen and enhance our positions there, our 11 positions in the South China Sea. We have been strengthening Pag-asa (Thitu) Island,” he said.
Lorenzana, earlier this month, said the construction of the beaching ramp at Pag-asa Island was at 60 percent and that bolth military and tourist facilities may be built there. DEMPSEY REYES
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