A welcome development in the relationship between
the Philippines and France.
Both countries are discussing the
possibility of expanding maritime cooperation, principally in the areas of the
possibility of conducting joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea and
developing a submarine fleet for Manila.<
 |
| (photo credit to owner) |
Rear Admiral Jean-Mathieu Rey, joint
commander of the French Armed Forces in the Asia-Pacific, said France suggested
joint patrols in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“We propose common patrol in this
area, for instance, patrolling together in the exclusive economic zone of the
Philippines…and if the Philippines will decide to deploy forces around New
Caledonia, they will be welcome to operate with us,” Rey told reporters
He continued: “As I mentioned to my
partner – and they agreed – we are stronger together. And against big
competitors, it’s better to be two or more, able to react and able to give
testimony and prove that we, the Philippine and the French forces, for example,
stick together…against another big neighbor like the Chinese.”
Rey underscored the importance of
such efforts in upholding international law, promoting multilateralism, and
protecting the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific region. In recent years,
France has placed increasing emphasis on its strategy toward the region,
describing itself as a “country in the Indo-Pacific,” where it counts over 9
million square kilometers in its EEZ.
France has been eyed by the country
to be the source for the country’s first ever submarines for it naval force.
Funding
remains a significant hurdle in modernization, including the potential
acquisition of submarines.
“We
are exploring also at the moment, and we’ve been exploring ever since I’ve arrived,
how to answer the request that was made to us…on the modernization of the
Philippine Army. Actually, it was even one of the priorities that President
Duterte mentioned when I presented my credentials to him,” she said.
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