Philippine President Rodrigo R. Duterte has requested China to patrol in international waters leading to Malacca Strait and the Sulu Sea, following the threat of terrorism and piracy.
“By the way, I also asked China, if they can patrol the international waters without necessarily intruding into the territorial waters of countries. We would be glad to have their presence there,” said Duterte in his speech during an oath-taking ceremony for the Armed Forces of the Philippines officers in Manila recently.
Duterte revealed that international cargo ships are looking for other sea routes despite added expense due to the piracy and kidnapping incidents in Sulu Sea and Malacca Strait.
He said if trade routes become more dangerous or are blocked, international trade routes will shift, it will become more expensive, and companies could pay higher insurances rates such as consumers paying higher prices for services and goods.
“Either they go up to the north, and if they’re headed for Mexico, down south, or here where it would be neared, which would mean higher costs, higher rate, higher insurance, it adds up to the good and the services there, governs the world, it’s always goods and services,” said Duterte.
He said China could patrol international waters similarly to how they did off coast of Somalia, referring to Chinese ships protecting trade routes from pirates as part of an international effort.
He cited Beijing could deploy its coast guard cutters, not its “gray ships” or naval assets.
This move was supported by Hermogenes Esperon Jr., national security adviser, who said that the President is just expressing his serious concerns on the series of kidnapping activities in Mindanao.
“Terrorism is an international concern, that’s what he meant. If he may have mentioned one country, all countries are also concerned on terrorism,” said Esperon.