Similar activities seen with other ally-countries
MORE joint patrols between the Philippines and United States will be conducted in the West Philippine Sea in the South China where the Chinese have been harassing Philippine vessels in the past months, the Armed Forces said yesterday.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the AFP public affairs office, said maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) are expected with the US and other allies of the Philippines.
The latest two-day maritime activity was launched last Wednesday. It included joint patrols, passing exercises, communication checks, cross-decks exercises, officer of the watch maneuvers and fixed-wing flight operations.
“We expect more of these similar activities with our ally and partner countries, those interested… We expect more within this year but I’m not yet privy (about the next activity),” Trinidad said.
The Philippine military sent four ships, a multi-role helicopter, and an anti-submarine helicopter from the Philippine Navy to take part in the activity, the second to be held by the US and the Philippines.
The US Indo-Pacific Command deployed four ships, including the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, and multiple combat aircraft from the US Carrier Strike Group 1.
The US and the Philippines held the first MCA in November last year in the West Philippine Sea. A couple of days later, the Philippines and Australia also conducted joint patrols in the area.
Trinidad, asked how many joint patrols with the US are scheduled this year, Trinidad said he does not have the number “but expect we will be increasing our participation in such kind of exercises.”
Chinese ships have harassed resupply missions to the Philippine-occupied Ayungin Shoal in the past months – the last one was on December 10.
Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr was aboard one of the supply boats involved in the mission – the Unaizah Mae 1 which was subjected to dangerous maneuvers, water cannoning and ramming.
The Philippines and the US have the Mutual Defense Treaty that requires the two nations to respond to any armed attack in the metropolitan territory of either party or on the island territories or on armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.
Philippines also have a Visiting Forces Agreement with the US and a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia.
INTEROPERABILITY
AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr said the maritime cooperative activity included exercises “that allowed for the exchange of best practices.”
“This improved the proficiency of both armed forces in responding to potential threats in the maritime domain,” he said.
“The maritime cooperative activity reaffirms the strong bond and enduring partnership between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Indo-Pacific Command.
This collaborative effort not only enhances the capabilities of both forces but also contributes to the overall security and stability of the region,” he added.
Trinidad said MCAs are important for capability development and enhancement of interoperability with ally countries.
He said the latest US-PH MCA went well, except for shadowing by the Chinese.
The Chinese have also shadowed the first MCA between the Philippines and US and the succeeding MCA between Philippines and Australia.
“As of now, everything went well and there was no untoward incident that happened during the conduct of the MCA,” Trinidad said yesterday afternoon.
Two Chinese ships began shadowing Philippine and US ships on Wednesday. “As of now (yesterday afternoon), they were still shadowing, following our vessels,” said Trinidad.
“As long as they do not interfere or do dangerous maneuvers against our vessels, then we will be proceeding as planned and I think we’ve been doing well,” he said.
Asked why China was shadowing the MCA, Trinidad said, “We cannot predict their intention regarding this.”
On China’s conduct of routine patrols in the South China Sea, coinciding with the latest US-Philippine MCA, Trinidad said this could just be incidental.
“We want to emphasize that the maritime cooperative activity between the Philippines and US is basically well within our (200 nautical miles) exclusive economic zone and based on international law,” he said.
“We hope that all other countries will be respecting the exercise of our sovereignty and our rights in the conduct of the said activities well within our exclusive economic zone,” said Trinidad.
SHADOWBOXING
The maritime exercises between Manila and Washington follow Beijing’s warning to the Philippines that any miscalculation in their escalating dispute in the South China Sea would bring a resolute response.
“What we are witnessing is the US and China engaging each other in a dangerous game of shadowboxing in the South China Sea,” international studies professor Renato de Castro said.
In Beijing, China’s military on Wednesday said would conduct routine patrols with its naval and air forces in the South China Sea from Wednesday to Thursday.
China’s military did not say where exactly the patrols would be held but they were announced as the Philippines and the United States were carrying out the two-day joint patrol.
China’s military said troops in the area will be on high alert at all times, and will defend national sovereignty, security and maritime rights.
The patrols also aim to deter activities that disrupt the South China Sea and create “hot spots,” the military said on its Southern Theater Command’s Wechat account.
Beijing and Manila have traded sharp accusations in recent months over several run-ins in the South China Sea, including charges that China rammed a ship earlier this month carrying the Philippine armed forces chief of staff.
“Chinese actions are pushing (the Philippines) further to US arms. China has no one to blame for closer US-Philippine security relations but itself,” De Castro said.
Last week, the Philippines said it was not provoking conflict in the South China Sea, responding to China’s accusation that Manila was encroaching on Beijing’s territory.
China has repeatedly warned the Philippines of breaching areas of the South China Sea it considers its territory. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, while the Philippines refers to the part of South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone as the West Philippines Sea.
China said the Philippines has relied on US support to continually provoke China.
TACTIC
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said Chinese shadowing is a tactic to annoy the US and the Philippines. If the two countries react by initiating an “aggressive action,” China will have the opportunity to react but the US and Philippines and will be blamed for whatever incident may happen.
“That’s part of their shady tactics in the WPS (West Philippine Sea),” he said.
He said China is just waiting for an aggressive action from the Philippines and the US. — With Raymond Africa and Reuters
