Navy prepares to revamp WPS order of battle

FILE PHOTO: The Philippine Navy’s BRP Antonio Luna leads three other participating ships during the first Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in April 2024 between the Philippines, the United States, Australia, and Japan, in the West Philippine Sea. —ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES

The Philippine Navy will soon expand its naval force units overseeing the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and waters near Taiwan to better defend the country’s interests amid China’s growing assertiveness.

The Department of National Defense recently approved the reorganization of Naval Forces West to Western Naval Command, and the Naval Forces Northern Luzon to Northern Luzon Naval Command, Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad told the Inquirer.

The Naval Forces West in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, is a naval unit in charge of maritime security in Palawan including the Philippine claims in the Kalayaan Island Group in the WPS.

The Naval Forces Northern Luzon in San Fernando, La Union, meanwhile, oversees maritime security in Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, Balintang Channel in the north facing Taiwan and Philippine (Benham) Rise in the east.

Both units are among those at the front lines dealing with China’s coercive and aggressive actions. Beijing in recent years has stepped up its aggressiveness in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely, and around Taiwan, where it has not ruled out taking the island by force.

Trinidad said the expansion was due to “increasing importance of both naval forces.”

“With the advent of the comprehensive archipelagic defense concept and shift to external defense, they are playing an increasing role in the defense and security of the country,” he said, referring to a defense strategy introduced in early 2024 that shifts the military’s focus from insurgency operations to territorial defense.

The expanded units will be officially activated following separate orders.

Part of the upcoming changes are expected to transform the units into the equivalent of a division and upgrade its highest rank from commodore to rear admiral, a two-star or O-8 position. More personnel and assets will be deployed to the expanded units.

“We are looking at a more robust organization for the fleet,” Trinidad said.

The Navy said last month that it will study Sen. Francis Tolentino’s proposal to create a “West Philippine Sea Command” to bring all units dealing with those waters under one command.