FILE – Sweden’s Defense Minister Pal Jonson arrives for a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council at NATO headquarters in Brussels, on Oct. 11, 2023. Sweden’s defense chief has expressed alarm over Beijing’s repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, saying such actions threaten local and global security, undermine regional stability and underscore the need to invest “for our security and freedom.” (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo, File)
Published June 7, 2024
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Sweden’s defense chief has expressed alarm over Beijing’s repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, saying such actions threaten global security, undermine stability and underscore the need to invest “for our security and freedom.”
Defense Minister Pål Jonson spoke Thursday night in a diplomatic reception in Manila for Sweden’s national day after meeting his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., on expanding defense relations. Sweden is one of the possible sources of supersonic fighter jets that the Philippines plans to acquire as its military shifts focus from decades of fighting communist and Muslim insurgencies to territorial defense.
“Let me express my deep concern on the repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippines vessels that have been taking place in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea,” Jonson said. He did not mention China in his speech but drew applause from an audience that included top Philippine military and security officials and Western and Asian diplomats.
Jonson used the name the Philippines has adopted for the stretch of waters called the exclusive economic zone extending from its western coast to the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety and guards closely with its coast guard, navy and other ships.
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SOURCE: www.apnews.com
RELATED: Swedish defense chief says actions against Philippines in South China Sea threaten global security
Published June 7, 2024
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Sweden’s defense chief has expressed alarm over Beijing’s repeated dangerous maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the disputed South China Sea, saying such actions threaten local and global security, undermine regional stability and underscore the need to invest “for our security and freedom.” Defense Minister Pål Jonson spoke Thursday in a diplomatic reception in Manila for Sweden’s national day after meeting his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., on expanding defense relations. Sweden is one of the possible sources of supersonic fighter jets that the Philippines plans to acquire as its military shifts focus from decades of fighting communist and Muslim insurgencies to territorial defense.
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SOURCE: www.krdo.com
RELATED: Swedish defence chief says actions against Philippines in South China Sea threaten global security
Philippine flag flutters on BRP Sierra Madre, a dilapidated Philippine Navy ship that has been aground since 1999, on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands, in the South China Sea, on Mar 29, 2014. (Photo: REUTERS/Erik De Castro)
Published June 7, 2024
MANILA, Philippines: Sweden’s defence chief has expressed alarm over Beijing’s repeated dangerous manoeuvres against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea, saying such actions threaten security, undermine stability and underscore the need to invest ‘for our security and freedom”.
Defence Minister Pal Jonson spoke Thursday night (Jun 6) in a diplomatic reception in Manila for Sweden’s national day after meeting his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, on expanding defence relations. Sweden is one of the possible sources of supersonic fighter jets that the Philippines plans to acquire as its military shifts focus from decades of fighting insurgencies to territorial defence.
“Let me express my deep concern on the repeated dangerous manoeuvres against Philippines vessels that have been taking place in the West Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, Jonson said. He did not mention China in his speech but drew applause from an audience that included top Philippine military and security officials and Western and Asian diplomats.
Jonson used the name the Philippines has adopted for the stretch of waters called the exclusive economic zone extending from its western coast to the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety and guarded closely with its coast guard, navy and other ships.
Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine government ships over two disputed shoals have flared alarmingly since last year, causing collisions.
China’s use of powerful water cannons had damaged Philippine vessels, injured several Filipino navy personnel, and strained diplomatic relations. Manila has filed diplomatic protests and publicised Chinese actions against the Philippine coast guard and navy vessels in an effort to gain international support.
