DND: 4-country exercise not against China
THE Department of National Defense (DND) said the maritime exercise held yesterday by the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia in the contested West Philippine Sea is not a show of force against China.
The one-day exercise called multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) involved five warships – two from the Philippines, and one each from US, Japan and Australia.
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the activity is a “show of unity” among the four countries that have declared their commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“We’re just practicing what is allowed under international law. As I said, show of unity. If they (China) consider it as a show of force, that is up to them,” he said.
“What we’re doing is something that’s practiced by all civilized nations in the world,” he added.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief AFP public affairs office, said the MMCA has been “successfully concluded with no untoward incident – all planned exercises were executed.”
The holding of the exercise was announced on Saturday by the defense chiefs of the four countries. It had been planned within the 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
Trinidad, in a statement after the exercise, said, “The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), Australian Defense Force (ADF) and Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) successfully conducted the first multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday, April 7.”
He said the MMCA was held “within the Philippine exclusive economic zone.” It involved naval vessels and aircraft from the four countries — the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS15) with AW109 helicopter, BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) with AW159 Wildcat ASW helicopter, and BRP Valentin Diaz (PS177) from the Philippine Navy; the USS Mobile and a P-8A Poseidon from the United States Navy; the Royal Australian Navy HMAS Warramunga and Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft; and the JS Akebono from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces.
“The MMCA demonstrated the participating countries’ commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific through interoperability exercises in the maritime domain. It will also contribute greatly to the AFP’s capability development,” he also said.
Trinidad said the exercise “participants performed communication exercise, division tactics or Officer of the Watch maneuver, and a photo exercise.” He said the activities were designed to enhance the different forces’ abilities to work together effectively in maritime scenarios.
Andolong said the defense department does not expect the MMCA to further increase tension with China.
Chinese Coast Guard and Chinese maritime militia vessels have harassed Philippine military resupply missions to the Philippine-held Ayungin Shoal in the past months, through dangerous maneuvers, cannoning and ramming.
The last harassment incident occurred on March 23. It led to severe damage of the military-contracted supply boat Unaizah Mae 4 and wounding of three Navy personnel.
On whether the MMCA will cause China to be less aggressive in the West Philippine Sea, Andolong said: “I cannot speak for China.”
China was reported to be planning patrols also yesterday in the disputed South China Sea but no details were given.
Asked on the possibility of a follow-up MMCA among the four countries, Andolong said, “The MCA is an agreement between all the participants. That depends on our policy makers if there will be another (MMCA). It’s something that is always possible.”
The Philippines has conducted three maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) with the US in the West Philippines — in November, January and February. It conducted an MCA with Australia in November.
Andolong said the MCA of the Philippines, US, Japan and Australia is not meant to increase the tension in the West Philippine Sea.
“It should not because it’s being conducted from time to time. I don’t think the tension raised considerably during that time. It’s just that we are always bombarded by their rhetoric in what we do,” he said.
Andolong said they expect China to criticize yesterday’s MMCA. “We already expect that they will malign, through propaganda, what we are doing in this MCA.”
On expanding the four-country MCA to include more allies, Andolong said, “Everything is possible but that will be subject to further discussions and that will have to occur at the ministerial levels, operational levels.”
Andolong, nevertheless said, the DND always welcomes opportunities to work with like-minded countries to enhance the capability and interoperability of the Armed Forces under its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.
China announced that it has organized “joint naval and air combat patrols” in the South China Sea also yesterday. It said “all military activities that mess up the situation in the South China Sea and create hotspots are under control.”
Sought for a comment, Andolong said: “Actually, that’s a misnomer. They cannot conduct combat patrol over EEZ… Second, their statement is vague… I don’t know what they are talking about.”
Military officials from the four countries had a pre-sail conference in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan last Saturday. The meeting was held to “finalize plans for this historic activity,” said AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad on Saturday night.
Trinidad said the MCA “underscores the commitment to uphold international law while promoting peace and stability in the region.”
“The MCA, to be conducted by naval/maritime and air force units, will prioritize adherence to international and domestic laws, ensuring the safety of navigation and respect for the rights and interests of all states involved. It will also demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism and cooperation among participating forces,” he said.
In a joint statement last Saturday, the defense chiefs of the Philippines, US, Japan, and Australia said they uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, and respect for maritime rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
It said the four countries were conducting the MMCA as a demonstration of “our collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
The statement said the MMCA will be conducted “in a manner that is consistent with international law as well as domestic laws and rules of respective nations, and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.”
The defense chiefs said four countries stand with other nations in safeguarding international order which it said is the “foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.”
“Our four nations reaffirm the position regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute,” the statement added.
The statement was referring to the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration that invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea and recognized the rights of Philippines over its EEZ.
Sen. Francis Tolentino, chair of the Senate Special Committee on Philippine Maritime and Admiralty Zones, said the exercise would promote stability, contrary to what observers say.
“China is not being provoked but being made to realize that peace and stability in the region is likewise to serve their interests,” he said. — With Raymond Africa
