SURIGAO del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel has called for the conduct by the Philippines and the United States of joint military amphibious landing maneuvers on Pag-asa Island following the full restoration of the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the two countries.

“We would urge Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana to propose the inclusion of joint amphibious landing drills on Pag-asa in the next Balikatan,” Pimentel, chairperson of the House strategic intelligence committee, said.

Balikatan refers to the annual U.S.-Philippine military training exercises that are meant to boost joint crisis-action planning and the interoperability of forces.

The exercises are focused on a variety of missions, including maritime security and close air support.

“While we must avoid escalating tensions, we should also develop the abilities of our combined forces to operate side by side and rapidly respond to a full range of events, including conflict in our waters,” Pimentel said.

“In fact, we can also invite Australian forces to participate in the amphibious landing exercises. We also have a VFA with Australia,” Pimentel said.

Pimentel is counting on the revitalization of the VFA with America “to provide a psychological deterrence” to armed conflict with China over the West Philippine Sea.

“The VFA reinforces in a big way our Mutual Defense Treaty with America that is turning 70 years old this month,” Pimentel said.

President Rodrigo Duterte reinstated the VFA last week after meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Manila.

Located 480 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa City, Pag-asa belongs to the Kalayaan Island Group at the western section of the Spratly archipelago in the West Philippine Sea.

The entire Spratly archipelago and its many ridges are being claimed by China.

However, a tribunal of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague had ruled in 2016 that China does not have any legal basis or historic claim on Philippine territories in the West Philippine Sea.

A low-lying 37.2-hectare landmass surrounded by shallow coral ranges, Pag-asa has been occupied by the Philippines since 1970.

President Ferdinand Marcos established by decree in 1978 the Municipality of Kalayaan over the Kalayaan Island Group under the Province of Palawan. Pag-asa is the only barangay of Kalayaan town.

At present, Pag-asa is guarded by a small military detachment led by an officer with the rank of lieutenant. The Philippine Navy also has the Naval Station Emilio Liwanag on the island.

Pag-asa used to be a purely military installation, until the government allowed civilians to settle in.

Last year, the Department of National Defense built a beaching ramp on the island as part of the military’s basing support system.

The Department of Transportation has also put up a new sheltered port on the island for Filipino fishing vessels.

Meanwhile, the island’s unpaved 1.3 kilometer airstrip is now being cemented.