Update 8/20: Contrary to press releases from the Philippine Navy and Marine Corps, which claimed that the Maritime Security Battalion would deploy to the “Southwestern Frontier,” the unit has arrived in Tawi-Tawi, the country’s southernmost islands. It should be noted that Tawi-Tawi’s waterways have been used by Chinese warships and coast guard vessels for transits between the first and second island chains in recent months. The regional command has also been reorganized into a new joint task force focused on territorial defense.
The Philippines has deployed patrol gunboats to Western Palawan amid recent tensions with Beijing over disputed features in the South China Sea (SCS).
Four Navy patrol boats have been sent to the country’s westernmost province following one of the most severe incidents between Manila and Beijing on June 17th, which saw the seizure of Philippine troops and equipment by the China Coast Guard during an Armed Forces of the Philippines-led resupply mission to BRP Sierra Madre (LT-57) at Second Thomas Shoal. These deployments have been composed of Manila’s newest assets and formations under its military modernization efforts to reorient Philippine forces from internal security to external defense operations.
While both countries hashed out a yet-to-be-disclosed provisional agreement on the resupply and personnel rotation of the outpost at the disputed feature after the clash, disputes continue at other hotspots across the region. At Sabina Shoal, the Philippine Coast Guard’s flagship has been locked in a standoff with Chinese vessels since April. Concerns that the disputes could expand into the airspace over the SCS have been raised by senior Philippine defense officials after an incident between two Chinese fighters and a Philippine Air Force patrol mission over Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippine Navy’s recently delivered Israeli Acero-class patrol gunboats and American Cyclone-class patrol ships have appeared at Naval Detachment Ulugan Bay in Western Palawan, the service’s main base for operations into the South China Sea. These included the vessels BRP Gener Tinangag (PG-903), BRP Lolinato To-ong (PG-902), BRP Valentin Diaz (PS-177) and BRP Ladislao Diwa (PS-178). All four vessels were procured through the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program or donated from the United States.
The deployment of these patrol vessels to Western Palawan and the South China Sea marks a significant shift in the force posture of the Littoral Combat Force, the command responsible for the service’s coastal and littoral operations.
In early August, Gener Tinangag and Lolinato To-ong became the first Acero-class patrol gunboats to become certified in external defense operations when they docked at Thitu Island. Also known as Pag-Asa, the island is Manila’s primary possession in the South China Sea with efforts to develop its airstrip, coast guard, and port facilities slowly progressing over the last few years. According to a social media post from Gener Tinangag‘s crew, the arrival of the patrol boat was a “significant milestone in the nation’s maritime defense efforts” and demonstrates the Philippine Navy’s “strengthened presence” in the SCS.
“As a leading vessel in a new class of patrol gunboats, PG903 sets a precedent for future naval operations in the KIG {Kalayaan Island Group}, paving the way for a more robust defense posture.”
Plans to use the Acero-class patrol gunboats were announced by President Marcos in 2023, who stated that the vessels would be used for South China Sea patrols. Valentin Diaz also participated in a multilateral joint patrol with Australia, Japan, and the U.S. off Palawan in April.
According to Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight Project at Stanford University’s Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, these deployments represent “the early, concrete steps Manila is now taking to implement its new comprehensive archipelagic defense concept.”
“Moving from internal security to external defense is a long journey that will involve not just new roles and missions, but very different doctrine, organization, skill sets and equipment,” said Powell.
