September 21, 2023

A US defense expert has urged the Philippines to forge a united front with its allies in the face of intensifying Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea, the latest of which was the water cannon attack against the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)  vessels last August 5.

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The PCG vessels were on resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre stationed in Ayungin Shoal when China Coast Guard bombarded it with water cannons.

The Philippines Coast Guard strongly condemned the “China Coast Guard’s (CCG’s) dangerous maneuvers and illegal use of water cannons against the PCG vessels.”

The National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS) likewise strongly condemned China’s intensifying illegal and aggressive activities in Philippine sovereign territory.  

Military defense expert and retired US Navy Capt. Carl Schuster, decried the incident alleging that the China attack is a criminal activity in the country’s sovereign waters.

Schuster added that it is “another display of its willful disregard for the health and safety of coast guardsmen and a blatant violation of international law.” 

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He believes the latest major provocation by China is yet another test of what the Philippines is willing to do and how it will respond to this attack.

Capt. Schuster made an important message in saying that the Philippines is not alone. 

He believes the country must show a united front with its allies to check escalating Chinese aggression. 

While he made it clear that there are no risk-free decisions, he pushed for greater diplomatic collaboration between the Philippines and its allies, as well as strengthening the country’s economic advantages to become more independent and capable in standing up to China.

Schuster said Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently facing multiple challenges.

China’s recent string of controversies has resulted in several economic and political setbacks that are forcing President Xi to act “strong” in hopes of intimidating not just the international community but even Communist Party members who may be displeased with Xi’s regime. 

Schuster stressed that condemnation is a good move as it sends a strong message. 

“But without a strong backing, it is not enough against “totalitarian leaders like Xi to back off,” he added

Capt. Schuster also said “dialogue without results are useless,” and therefore, recommended the Philippines to make the first move in establishing regular consultations with its allies- particularly the United States. 

“Regular consultations not only serve as a good first step in deterring Chinese aggression, they also shape future bilateral actions between the Philippines and its allies. The U.S. must make China’s actions a condition for dialogue,” he explained.

Capt. Schuster also proposed that the Philippines consider constructing an airfield on Palawan and establishing a military presence nearby to serve as further deterrence. 

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When asked on whether he thinks the Philippines should sponsor a resolution im the United Nations General Assembly- the defense expert agreed because “this will reinforce the 2016 Arbitral Award.”

He said that such a resolution would hurt China’s reputation and humiliate it before the international community which can hurt its economy and trade. 

Capt. Schuster encouraged the Philippines to expand its horizons toward becoming less dependent on China, economically.

“The Philippine has an appeal in the U.S., India, and parts of Africa, and South America. The Philippines also has a strong asset in its Information Technology Industry and its strong English speaking population- this is a strength to encourage more investment to divert from China to the Philippines.” 

He also encouraged the Philippine Navy to invest into submarines and drones to patrol the West Philippine Sea.

Capt. Schuster ended with this to say;

Schuster spoke at a recent webinar hosted by the National Youth Movement for the West Philippine Sea (NYMWPS), a peaceful, non- partisan and transglobal organization that advocates  for the preservation of the Philippines’ sovereignty and territorial integrity. Dra. Celia Lamkin, current Global Chair and founder of NYMWPS, moderated the online forum.

_{CAPT. Carl O. Schuster, USN ( Ret.) served for 25 years in the United States Navy, was a former Director of Operations at US Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center near Pearl Harbor, a  professor in Hawaii Pacific University’s Diplomacy and Military Science Program, a defense consultant  and a freelance writer with over 700 articles and three books published, and occasionally works for media outlets as a subject matter expert on defense issues related to naval operations and the Indo-Pacific Ocean region. – Press Release}

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