By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Aware of the formidable military might of China, Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro has underscored the importance of the Philippines’ relationship with its old ally United States as tensions in the West Philippine Sea persists.

This came on the heels of what appeared to be China’s “calculated show of force when Chinese ships staged a rare “invasion” of Ayungin or Second Thomas Shoal in the WPS.

Citing satellite images by Planet Labs, Ray Powell, SeaLight director at the Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, revealed that on Monday, December 11, as many as 11 Chinese maritime militia vessels were observed in the Ayungin Shoal.

“This highly unusual invasion of the shoal’s interior appears to have been a calculated show of force by Beijing,” Powell wrote in an analysis on the SeaLight website on Thursday, December 14.

On Friday, December 15, Teodoro said he believes Beijing is “converting the South China Sea into a lake of China” by strategically deploying its coast guard, not its military vessels, in the disputed waterway.

To recall, China has long been insisting that it owns virtually the whole of the South China Sea, including the WPS.

It also does not recognize the 2016 arbitral award by a UN-backed court invalidating its 9-dash nine claim.

“[US support] translates to several things, more importantly our concrete iterations of helping us in our capability upgrades so we have more robust defense system to be able to enforce our territorial jurisdiction and sovereignty,” Teodoro stressed.

(ai/mnm)