INDO-PACIFIC City: An Innocent Tourist Attraction or a Stop Toward Further Militarization

OE Watch Commentary: Stopovers by the Chinese Source: “Chinese Research Vessel Docks in Davao,” Inquirer, 16 July 2018. military in the have been drawing attention and http://globalnation.inquirer.net/168461/breaking-chinese-research-vessel- raising concern over the past month. On 16 July, according docks-davao to the accompanying excerpted article published in the Philippine news source Inquirer, a Chinese research vessel A Chinese research vessel docked at President ’s hometown in reportedly docked to replenish in Davao City, Philippine Davao City on Monday night. President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown. The stop was said spokesperson Cdr. Jonathan Zata said Yuan Wang 3 arrived to be routine, in which China had obtained diplomatic at 8:14 p.m. in Davao City for replenishment purposes. clearance from higher authority. He said the visit obtained a diplomatic clearance from higher authorities and there was “nothing unusual” about it. The visit drew added attention because, according to the The visit comes as opposition senators have taken interest on the presence of Inquirer article, earlier in the month, six opposition senators Chinese military transport planes in Davao City expressed their concern by filing two resolutions calling for an inquiry into earlier “technical stops” of Chinese cargo Source: Francis Wakefield, “PN Confirms Arrival of Chinese Survey Ship planes in Davao City. Critics were quick to point out that the in Davao City,” Bulletin, 17 July 2018. https://news.mb.com. Philippines does not hold a Visiting Forces Agreement with ph/2018/07/17/pn-confirms-arrival-of-chinese-survey-ship-in-davao-city China. “It’s completely routine, nothing unusual about the visit. We had Chinese The accompanying excerpted article, published by the warships calling on our ports in the past the same as with any other warships Manilla Bulletin, confirmed the visit, calling it routine. from other countries,” [Navy spokesman Commodor Jonathan Zata] added. The article went on to describe other visits. For example, It was recalled that three Chinese Navy vessels were in the country for a from 30 April to 3 May this year, “three Chinese vessels goodwill visit from April 30 to May 3, 2018. were in the country for a goodwill visit,” docking at Sasa The vessels– Chang Chun (DDG 150), a guided missile destroyer; Kin Zhou Wharf in Davao City. In June, A Chinese aircraft landed (FFG 532), a guided missile frigate; and Chao Hu (890), a replenishment ship and refueled in Davao. More recently, a Chinese People’s — also docked at Sasa Wharf in Davao City. Liberation Army Air Force Ilyushin IL-76 refueled at Davao The flotilla was headed by Rear Adm. Shen Hao, deputy commander of the International Airport. The IL-76 is a heavy-transport plane East Sea Fleet of the People Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and the concurrent capable of carrying tanks and other military equipment. commander-in-chief of the PLA Navy Task Group 150. The port calls could very well be routine, or it could be In June, government also allowed a Chinese aircraft to land and refuel in connected to China’s militarization of the South China President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown of Davao City. Sea/West Philippine Sea disputed areas. Either way, it is A Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Ilyushin Il-76 made interesting to note, however, that all the visits have taken another refueling stopover at the Davao International Airport on Saturday place in Davao. End OE Watch Commentary (Hurst) noon. The IL-76 is a known heavy-transport plane designed to carry tanks, guns “…opposition senators have taken interest and other military equipment. It has a wingspan of about 50 meters and has a on the presence of Chinese military payload of at least 40 tons. transport planes in Davao City.”

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OE Watch | August 2018 35