A Philippine Marine Corps unit focused on securing sea lines of communication – including those in the South China Sea – is now operational in the force’s latest modernization effort to reorient itself from internal to external security operations.
Marine Battalion Landing Team 4 (MBLT-4) was officially recertified to the Marine Security Battalion, a first-of-its-kind formation dedicated to littoral operations, in a ceremony on July 1. A press release on the unit’s certification attributed the creation of the unit to the “increasing external threats and border disputes.”
“The unit’s transformation demonstrates the PMC’s adaptability and readiness to conduct maritime operations and littoral maneuvers in the southwestern frontier of archipelagic defense,” stated the release.
Philippine Marine Corps Commandant Maj. Gen. Arturo G. Rojas claimed that the Marine Security Battalion would significantly impact Manila’s ability to operate in the country’s southwestern frontier. While it is unclear where this unit will be deployed, the area Rojas mentioned includes areas off Western Palawan in the South China Sea.
From their Archipelagic Coastal Defense Operating Concept to the procurement of BrahMos supersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, the Philippine Marine Corps has spearheaded Manila’s military modernization in both planning and procurement since the beginning of 2012’s Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Plan. The force’s latest initiatives aim to have a variety of specialized units, including coastal defense, littoral maneuver, special operation-capable and archipelagic maneuver forces.
MBLT-4’s conversion into a Maritime Security Battalion aligns with the littoral component of this new force structure, which began to take form in 2020 with the activation of the Coastal Defense Regiment. The force has also retrained two battalions, MBLT-9 and MBLT-6, into Marine Amphibious Ready Units capable of amphibious assault operations using the force’s few KAAV-7A1s.
Compared to its previous mission, counterinsurgency operations in Palawan for 12 years, MBLT-4 is now equipped with the training and small boats necessary for littoral operations. At least four Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic Boats from the Assault Boat Battalion have been attached to this new unit. While these vessels were originally procured for internal security operations in Southern Mindanao, the Philippine Marine Corps has oriented them to assist in external defense.
At least one of these small boats was spotted by the China Coast Guard during their interception and boarding of the Philippine Military-led June 17 resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Second Thomas Shoal. An unknown quantity of the vessels were also deployed by the Philippine Marine Corps for a maritime domain awareness activity during a bilateral coastal defense exercise with U.S. Marines off Palawan in May.
Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight Project at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, noted that the Maritime Security Battalion is an important step by the Armed Forces of the Philippines in its transition from internal security to a new archipelagic defense concept.
“Refocusing the marines’ organization and training around amphibious missions is a key step in building out the country’s defense capabilities to meet very acute and growing maritime threats,” said Powell.
Maritime incidents between Manila and Beijing, particularly around Second Thomas Shoal, have escalated since last fall. This escalation by Chinese forces included the use of water cannons, rammings and even boarding actions against Philippine resupply attempts. The latest mission saw the injury of a Philippine Navy SEAL after a China Coast Guard small boat rammed his vessel. Chinese forces have also massed at Scarborough and Sabina Shoals, resulting in additional incidents and standoffs with Philippine forces.
While Powell thinks that the Marines could be deployed to support resupply efforts to the disputed shoal, he stressed that the real meaning of this new unit should be viewed in the context of how the Philippines is facing maritime threats from China.
“I’m sure they could be called upon to play a role in the RoRe missions, but it’s not clear that’s necessarily what’s in view. Rather, I’d read this as a broad look at the Philippines’ current maritime threats–especially those posed by China–and a recognition that the country needs a well-trained and equipped amphibious force that’s ready to meet the whole spectrum of potential contingencies,” said Powell.
Ray Powell, Director of the SeaLight Project at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation
