TWO military exercises involving Filipino, American, Australian and other foreign troops were launched Monday and Tuesday, with the drills aimed at honing skills in responding to various threats.
Philippine Marine commandant Maj. Gen. Arturo Rojas led the opening yesterday of one of the exercises, “Kamandag 08-24,” at the Navy Officers Club in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.
The 11-day exercise, annually conducted under the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty, involves around 2,000 personnel from both sides.
The other exercise, “Kasangga 2024-2, was launched Monday at Camp Elias Angeles in Pili town in Camarines Sur, with Australian armies participating.
Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said the exercise, which will run until November 18, involves 216 Philippine Army and 50 Australian Army personnel.
In the Kamandag exercise, several countries are directly participating in the exercises namely Japan (54 troops), South Korea (58), United Kingdom (eight) and Australia (five).
France, Thailand and Indonesia have been invited as observers. France sent two while Thailand and Indonesia dispatched one service member each for the exercise.
Training activities that will be pursued under Kamandag include a littoral live fire exercise in Burgos in Ilocos Norte, or about 200 nautical miles from Taiwan which China considers part of its territory.
Amphibious assault and counter-landing training activities are scheduled in Aborlan town in Palawan, an amphibious raid in Rizal town, also Palawan; and humanitarian assistance and disaster response activities in Batanes and Ilocos Norte.
“This exercise basically focuses on our main objective which is to foster good relations, to enhance interoperability and of course to strengthen our ties with our partner nations,” said Rojas.
Brig. Gen. Vicente Blanco, the Kamandag exercise director on the Philippine side, said the exercise is not related to the tension between Taiwan and China.
“We are not exercising to join the fight — if there will be a fight — in that part of the region,” said Blanco.
Rojas said, “Basically, this is not directed at (any country). Again, we’re just doing all these things for us, as a military force, to be able to respond to any crisis.”
China has been harassing ang bullying Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea which Beijing claims almost entirely.
For Kasangga, Dema-ala said the exercise covers “critical areas such as urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting, and tactical casualty care.”
He said troops from both sides will also conduct training in explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, mortar gunnery with forward observers, and civil-military operations.
“Exercise Kasangga aims to enhance the skills and bolster the interoperability of both armies in various war-fighting functions,” said Dema-ala.
The military yesterday reported an increase in the number of Chinese Navy and Coast Guard vessels at “very important” features in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine Navy said 34 People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N) and Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were seen operating at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal, Sabina (Escoda) Shoal, and Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Scarborough and Panatag Shoal from October 7 to 13 compared to 28 during the previous week.
Incidents of Chinese harassment have been recorded in these three areas.
Ayungin Shoal is occupied by Filipino troops while Scarborough Shoal has been under Chinese control since 2012. Escoda Shoal is unoccupied although Chinese vessels have swarmed the area.
The Navy said it was giving emphasis to these three areas “as they are very important in protecting our EEZ (exclusive economic zone).”
The Navy said the Chinese vessels’ “continued illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea blatantly disregards the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling and violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
The 2016 ruling invalidated China excessive claims in the South China and recognized the Philippines’ rights to its 200-nautical mile EZZ provided under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
