PH leads 8-nation naval exercise in West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines led 11 naval vessels from eight countries in a series of exercises in the West Philippine Sea, including coordinated maneuvers, search-and-rescue and medical evacuation drills, the Philippine Navy said on Friday.

The exercises involved naval forces from the Philippines, United States, Australia, Japan, India, New Zealand, Singapore and Brunei as part of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Experts’ Working Group on Maritime Security.

The BRP Jose Rizal, a guided-missile frigate, led participating ships in formation and maneuvering exercises during the at-sea phase, which began on Tuesday.

READ: PH, France hold naval exercises in WPS

The Philippine Navy also deployed an AW159 helicopter for a simulated medical evacuation from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s JS Ise to the BRP Jose Rizal.

Other participating vessels included the BRP Tarlac, a US Navy littoral combat ship, an Australian frigate, a Japanese helicopter destroyer, a New Zealand frigate and sustainment vessel, an Indian frigate and corvette, a Singaporean littoral ship and a Brunei patrol ship.

Combined Task Force Commander Capt. Miljun Peñaflorida said the exercise was part of the Navy’s training to prepare its personnel and equipment.

“In the Armed Forces—the Navy, in particular—it is the training that prepares our equipment and personnel, and the exercise is part of the training. The more we exercise, the more are ready for any eventuality,” Peñaflorida told reporters aboard the BRP Jose Rizal.

The ADMM-Plus brings together the 10 Asean member states and eight dialogue partners to discuss regional defense and security issues.

Chinese warship invited to join formation

During Wednesday’s exercises, a People’s Liberation Army Navy warship was spotted about 18.5 kilometers from the participating vessels as they approached the exercise area, and about 83 km from Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

The Philippine Navy contacted the Chinese warship by radio and invited it to join the exercise since China is also a member of the ADMM-Plus.

“We have a warship that is a country part of our ASEAN and Plus countries. We are always ready to accommodate them during the exercise,” Peñaflorida said.

The Chinese warship did not respond.

Peñaflorida said it was standard procedure for the Navy to challenge civilian or military vessels operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

But with the exercises underway, he said the Navy also wanted to keep the Chinese vessel outside the designated exercise area.

“But, since this is an exercise, what we wanted was for this country or warship to be out of the exercise box, so our objective was to guide them outside the exercise box,” Peñaflorida said.

He said the Chinese warship did not disrupt the exercises. /mr

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