The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is slowly beefing up both its offensive and defensive capabilities, working to boost the country’s ground-based air defense, which will be reinforced by the planned acquisition of Indian-manufactured Brahmos supersonic missiles in two years’ time. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, however, stressed that the continued buildup under the ongoing modernization program of the AFP is purely for “defensive purpose,” as the military has to contend with China’s threat in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). “Our defense posture is just to defend our territory, we are not offensive. We are not going there as an offensive force but just to defend our territory,” the defense chief told military reporters a week ago during the Navy’s fleet review, the first ever in recent years for the Philippine military which was joined by more than 60 air and sea assets.

Acosta, R. (2020, December 27). Shift to 'active defense'. Business Mirror, p. A1.