ANOTHER Chinese Navy ship was sighted yesterday near the navy ships of the Philippines, United States and France engaged in a multilateral maritime exercise (MME) under the ongoing Balikatan exercises in the West Philippine Sea.
The Chinese ship, with bow number 578, was the second ship from China’s People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) to be monitored near the exercise’s “operational box,” the military’s Western Command (Wescom) said.
Last Saturday, a Chinese Navy ship with bow number 793, was sighted near the operational box which extends up to 50 nautical miles off mainland Palawan, well within the country’s 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone.
Wescom spokesman Capt. Ariel Coloma said the Chinese Navy ship was sighted last Saturday can no longer be seen near the operational box as of yesterday.
“Just this morning (Sunday), there is a PLAN (vessel) with bow number 578 (in the area).
It is about seven to eight miles away from the group, the 578,” said Coloma.
The “group” Coloma was referring to were the two Philippine Navy ships, a US Navy ship and a French Navy ship involved in the MME, one of the many activities scheduled under Balikatan, an annual huge-scale military exercise between the Philippines and the US conducted under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty that mandates both countries to come into each other’s defense in case of an armed attack.
France and Australia are participating in the series of drills at the invitation of the Philippines and the US. However, only France joined the MME, which began last Thursday and will end today, Monday.
Coloma declined to say what the Chinese were doing near the MME exercise area.
“As of now, I have no idea but they have (a) presence there now,” said Coloma.
Pressed if the Chinese ships were monitoring the MME, Coloma said: “I cannot speak for them but we are monitoring them. We record then we report what our ships are monitoring in the area.”
China has opposed the conduct of the MME in the contested West Philippine Sea, part of the South China Sea. It told the Philippines that “tensions could get worse and the region will only become less stable” when countries outside the region are brought into the South China Sea.
It urged the Philippines “to stop making maritime provocations” and also asked countries outside the region to stop stoking confrontation in the South China Sea.
Philippine military officials have earlier said they expect China to have a presence near the MME but expressed confidence the Chinese will not interfere with the training activities.
Coloma said the Chinese ships monitored last Saturday and yesterday did not “challenge” the ships involved in the MME.
“Based on the information from our ships, even yesterday, there was no mention of communication challenges. There was no untoward incident that occurred, except for their (Chinese) presence,” said Coloma.
Coloma said the MME was a success so far, at least as of yesterday. The MME is the first to be conducted under this year’s Balikatan, which started last April 22 and is due to end on May 10.
“We are successful and we are achieving our training objectives on a daily basis,” said Coloma.
The ships involved in the MME have so far held various training exercises, including replenishment at sea, cross-deck landing, medical/casualty evacuation, and division tactics, among others.
Coloma said the ships are still due to conduct search and rescue and photo exercises.
Coloma said the ships involved in the MME were in the northern part of San Vicente town in Palawan as of yesterday. He said these ships will be at the southern part of Palawan at the end of the MME today.
VESSEL SPOTTED
The Air Force has spotted a Chinese-flagged research vessel off Catanduanes, the Armed Forces reported yesterday.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the AFP’s Public Affairs Office, said the military first received information about the sighting of the vessel, named Shen Kuo, last Thursday.
The vessel was reported to be some 60.9 nautical miles east of Rapu-Rapu Island in Albay at that time, said Trinidad.
The Air Force’s Tactical Operations Wing-Southern Luzon sent a Nomad N-22 aircraft to conduct maritime patrol and sighted the vessel in the vicinity of Viga, Catanduanes last Saturday.
“Per latest reports from Tactical Operations Wing, Southern Luzon (which) conducted a maritime patrol on April 27, it was observed that the vessel was lying in the area and had no personnel on the main deck,” said Trinidad.
Trinidad said there were several attempts to contact the vessel, through radio channels.
However, Trinidad said these were “unsuccessful” due to a “lack of responsiveness or willingness to engage” on the part of the Chinese vessel.
“The AFP remains vigilant, monitoring any unauthorized research vessel in our maritime domain. We have already tasked nearby vessels for enhanced surveillance and reporting,” said Trinidad.
“Additionally, the AFP is coordinating with relevant agencies to address the unauthorized presence and investigate any illegal activities within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone), ensuring the security and protection of our waters,” said Trinidad.
Trinidad said the military is continuously monitoring the vessel.
“The Naval Forces Southern Luzon was also tasked to keep on monitoring (the vessel) using all our available assets. The monitoring of the said vessel is being coordinated with relevant agencies,” said Trinidad.
KEY FACTORS
The Armed Forces, with the help of the United States and other allies, will be ready to face any threats in the West Philippine Sea by the end of the administration of President Marcos Jr., the country’s top envoy to Washington said.
Marcos’ six-year term is set to end on June 30, 2028.
In an interview over DZBB, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez cited the ongoing modernization program of the AFP as well as assistance from the US as key factors that would ensure the readiness of the military to face any threats.
“We are looking at the possibility that maybe before the end of the term of President Marcos, our Armed Forces would be ready for our defense posture and strategy that we are doing right now with the United States,” Romualdez said.
Washington has repeatedly said its Mutual Defense Treaty with the country also applies to Philippine ships, aircraft or troops in the South China Sea.
Romualdez said there is bipartisan support in Washington to strengthening Manila’s defensive and deterrence capabilities, citing the legislation sponsored by Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty and Democrat Tim Kaine to provide the Philippines with $2.5 billion, or $500 million every year, in military assistance up to 2029.
This is separate from the 10-year Security Sector Assistance Program reached between Manila and Washington for the latter to provide assistance for the acquisition of coastal defense systems integrated air defense systems, armored vehicles, secure communication systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Last year, Washington also provided a $100 million financing grant to help Manila acquire heavy-lift helicopters after it canceled the purchase by the previous administration of 16 Mi17 V Hip helicopters from Russia due to US sanctions.
Romualdez said his office is now coordinating with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro regarding the matter.
“That’s what we are working right now. We are talking with Secretary Teodoro and he provided us a list of what the Armed Forces really needs. Hopefully, we’ll be able to get that since it would be of big help to the AFP,” he said.
Romualdez said upgrading the capabilities of the Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and Philippine Coast Guard tops their list.
He added the Air Force will be given priority to procure modern multi-role fighter aircraft.
“You’ll see these in the next three to five years,” he added.
Washington had earlier approved the Philippines’ acquisition of up to 12 units of F16 Viper Block 70/72, the latest iteration of the F16 Fighting Falcon jet, as well as armaments, including Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missile, AIM 120 AMRAAM beyond visual range air-to-air missile as well as the Harpoon anti-ship missile but Manila balked at the cost involved.
The Air Force even said it is also looking at the SAAB Gripen fighter offered by Sweden.
Marcos has initiated a major turnaround of the country’s foreign policy since he assumed power in 2022, away from the one espoused by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who sought to maintain close ties with Beijing and Moscow, away from Washington, the country’s traditional ally and security guarantor.
The Marcos administration also approved four more military sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement where US troops can station their supplies and equipment, bringing to nine the number of EDCA sites across the country.
Three of the four new EDCA sites are located in northern Luzon close to Taiwan, namely, the Lal-lo airport and Camilo Osias Naval Base in Cagayan, and Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Upi Gamu, Isabela.
The fourth site is in Balabac, Palawan, near the disputed South China Sea where Beijing has constructed military facilities on artificial islands it has built.
Chinese officials said these sites can be used by the US to conduct surveillance on their forces and possibly intervene if the tension in the Taiwan Strait worsens. — With Ashzel Hachero
