Pacific Naval Leaders Meet in Manila for Unity Show

The symposium co-hosted by the marine corps of the Philippines and United States in Manila is a 'show of unity' with 30 other nations amid tensions involving China in the West Philippine Sea, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Tuesday.

'The way I look at it, instead of looking at it as a show of force, for me this is a show of unity among like-minded nations, who get together for a common value and that is to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. Now the PALS 2025 is a part of a series of activities that we conduct bilaterally with the United States and with our partners multilaterally,' said AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. in a press conference during the opening of the Pacific Amphibious Leaders Symposium (PALS) 2025 in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

'For instance, we just finished the Balikatan exercise this year. Yesterday, we closed the Salaknib exercise between the PH Army and the US army, and today we opened the PALS. Again, for me, it's a show of unity,' he added.

The PALS 2025, which will run until July 10, is participated by senior Marine Corps officers, naval infantry, and military leaders from allied and partner nations across the Indo-Pacific.

The symposium is a face-to-face engagement among participants to boost cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region's amphibious and maritime community.

'This iteration is an honor for the Philippines to host it, we want to get as much as takeaway as possible. And maybe some people might interpret it that way, but I would not want to detract from the importance that the participants will bring into their exchanges,' said Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.

This year's Balikatan annual joint military exercise between the Philippines and the US was held from April 21 to May 9. Some 17,000 troops were earlier expected to join, and engaged in a full battle exercise.

When asked if such dialogues or exercises among allied nations are targeted against a certain nation, Teodoro replied: 'If the shoe fits, that's their problem. If any nation is against international law, who wants to change it unilaterally, wants to transgress on the rights of another country then so be it.'

'I really don't know where this will end up. Insofar as I'm concerned, what is manageable to me now are stronger bilateral ties,' the Philippine Defense chief added.

Tensions continue as Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Parts of the South China Sea that fall within Philippine territory have been renamed by the government as West Philippine Sea to reinforce the country's claim.

The West Philippine Sea refers to the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippine archipelago including Luzon Sea and the waters around, within and adjacent to the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines over China's claims in the South China Sea, saying that it had 'no legal basis.'

China has refused to recognize the decision. — VDV, GMA Integrated News