HEADLINES
Defense department pushes new archipelagic defense concept
3/9/24, 4:50 AM
The Department of Defense has formally launched the implementation of the “Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept” (CADC) aimed at developing the country’s capacity to protect and secure the entire Philippines, including its Exclusive Economic Zone.
In a statement issued Friday (March 8), Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the military will pursue the strict implementation of the CADC.
“I, thus urge our commanders and units in the AFP to exert all efforts to operationalize the CADC,” said Teodoro.
He explained: “In plain language, we are developing our capability to protect and security the entire territory and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in order to ensure that the people and all the generations of Filipinos to come shall freely reap and enjoy the bounties of the natural resources that are rightfully ours within our domain.
However, Teodoro said that the CADC should be considered as a strategic action and will not require “constant directives to carry out.”
Included in the strategy is the increased military presence in BAtanes, the country’s which is near Taiwan.
Teodoro underscored the strategic importance of Batanes for the country’s defense.
Reacting to Teodoro’s previous statement in boosting Batanes’ defense, China warned Manila to “tread carefully” on the Taiwan issue.
However, the DND merely ignored China’s warning, pointing out that Beijing has not business meddling with military concerns and activities of the Philippines in its own territory.