President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed Antonio Nafarrete as the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as the country continues to strengthen its military amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea.
The Philippines Department of National Defense announced the appointment on Tuesday. Nafarrete succeeds General Romeo Brawner, who completed his three-year tenure as the country’s top military officer.
Nafarrete previously served as Chief of the Philippines Army and has spent more than 36 years in military service, including leading combat and counter-insurgency operations against Islamist militants and communist insurgents in the southern Philippines.
Leading the Philippines’ Military Modernisation
The new military chief takes command of the 160,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines as the country pushes ahead with a multi-billion-dollar modernisation programme. The effort is aimed at replacing ageing military equipment—some dating back to the Second World War—and strengthening the Philippines’ external defence and maritime security capabilities.
The build-up comes as the Philippines faces increasingly frequent confrontations with China in the disputed South China Sea.
Appointment Follows Fresh Maritime Incident
Nafarrete’s appointment comes a day after another confrontation near the Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines military accused personnel from the China Coast Guard of striking one of its navy crew members on the head with a wooden baton.
China denied the allegation, calling it false and accusing the Philippines of distorting the facts surrounding the incident.
Expanding Security Partnerships
Alongside its long-standing alliance with the United States, the Philippines has expanded defence cooperation with countries including Japan, Australia, Canada and several European nations as it seeks to bolster regional security.
A graduate of the Philippines Military Academy Class of 1990, Nafarrete will serve a fixed three-year term until July 2029, unless removed earlier by President Marcos.
(with inputs from Reuters)
