NAVY ships from the Philippines, the United States, and France yesterday set sail for the West Philippine Sea to hold naval drills under the “Balikatan” exercise amid growing tensions with China.
Captain Ariel Coloma, spokesman of the AFP Western Command, said the ships left the port in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan at 9 a.m. yesterday.
First to leave was the Philippine Navy’s landing dock BRP Davao del Sur followed by offshore patrol vessel BRP Ramon Alcaraz, also from the Philippine Navy.
They were followed by USS Harpers Ferry, a dock landing ship from the US Navy, and FS Vendémiaire, a French frigate.
Coloma said the four ships would sail together when they reach the east coast of Palawan and then start with actual training like on “division tactics and OW (officers watch) maneuvers.”
Coloma said more exercises will be conducted in the north, like gunnery and photo exercises under the Balikatan’s multilateral maritime exercise (MME). The ships will disengage from each other on April 29 when the MME ends.
Coloma said three of the ships have other commitments, including BRP Davao del Sur which is taking part in an amphibious assault exercise on April 30 in Rizal town in Palawan.
Coloma said the BRP Ramon Alcaraz and FS Vendémiaire are due to take part in a bilateral sail from April 30 to May 3. The bilateral sail is not part of the Balikatan,
He said USS Harpers Ferry will “proceed independently,” adding the US ship may go to the area where it is assigned to operate.
Coloma, echoing other officials, said the exercise will improve their defense capabilities in responding to security challenges.
“We share the same security challenges with our partner nations, with our allies, so it’s really very timely that we are training with them so that when unforeseen scenarios, including disasters at sea, we can respond together seamlessly, without any problem,” he said.
Coloma could not immediately say if they monitored Chinese vessels near the areas where the Philippine, US and French navy ships will be sailing.
Asked if they expect the Chinese to disrupt or interfere with the MME, Coloma said, “We don’t expect that, we don’t want that. But if in case there is that scenario, our troops are ready.”
“Our troops will abide by the protocols and regulations and guidance of higher headquarters when it comes to that,” he added.
Coloma said the MME will proceed with or without Chinese presence.
“This has been planned already and we have been doing this exercise time and again. We are doing this (exercise) every year,” said Coloma.
China is locked in a territorial dispute with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan over the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea. China claims almost the entire South China Sea.
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, water-cannoning, and ramming.
The last harassment incident near Ayungin Shoal occurred on March 23. It led to severe damage of the military-contracted supply boat Unaizah Mae 4 and wounding of three Navy personnel.
DEFENSIVE EXERCISES
Lt. Gen. Michael Cederholm, commander of the US I Marine Expeditionary Force, said there is a chance other nations will join the MME in the future.
“The French are sailing this year in the MME. I see the opportunity perhaps for the inclusion of other nations to join us as our political leaders see fit,” Cederholm told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo on Wednesday night.
Cederholm said the military exercises being done under this year’s Balikatan exercise are defensive in nature.
He said they are merely doing these exercises to improve the interoperability and generate readiness, among others.
Cederholm said these are activities are being done “under the banner of defensive concepts.”
“So we are not looking for a fight… Everything that we’re doing is defensive in nature,” said Cederholm.
Coloma said several other exercises are lined up between Philippine and US forces in Palawan.
He mentioned the high-mobility artillery rocket system rapid infiltration (HIRAIN) exercise in San Vicente and Rizal towns and a gas-oil platform takedown (GOPLAT) exercise off Palawan.
On the HIRAIN, Coloma said the high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) will be transported to San Vicente town on April 30, via a C-130 plane.
“It will be stationed there for one day and simulate its capability,” said Coloma.
On May 1, the HIMARS will be transferred to Rizal town. “The following day, May 2, there will be live fire (exercise) but we’re not going to use explosive ammo during the live firing.
We will only be what we call inert ammo…but we will see the actual live firing,” said Coloma.
