Philippines holds joint drills with US, Canada, Australia

This joint manoeuvre follows heightened tensions due to China’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan and the South China Sea…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines commenced two days of joint sea and air exercises with the United States, Canada, and Australia on Wednesday, as Beijing continues to assert its territorial claim over the South China Sea, according to a joint statement.

The exercises, taking place “within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone,” aim to demonstrate “our collective commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” as stated by top military officials from the four nations.

This joint manoeuvre follows heightened tensions due to China’s aggressive stance toward Taiwan and the South China Sea, raising concerns about a potential conflict involving the United States.

Beijing claims the majority of the strategic South China Sea, despite an international tribunal ruling that invalidates its claims.

Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said this is the first Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity of the four countries.

“The activity, the first involving all four countries, was conducted in our EEZ and within the bounds of international law. It supports the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Trinidad was quoted as saying by the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

The Armed Forces of Philippines in a statement citing Trinidad said, “We can, however, confirm the presence of three PLA Navy vessels, namely PLA-Navy Wuzhou (FSG-626) Jiangdao II class corvette, PLA-Navy Huangshan (FFG-570) Jiankai II class corvette, and PLA-Navy Quijing (FSG-668) Jiangdao II Class Corvette, that tailed the ongoing MMCA.”

Trinidad also said the MMCA is “not aimed against any particular country” but a collective expression of support for a rules-based international order.

The Philippine contingent included the missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) with a AW-159 “Wildcat” anti-submarine helicopter and the offshore patrol vessel, BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16).

Australia has deployed a Poseidon Aircraft (P-8A) while Canada sent the HMCS Montreal (FFH-336) and a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.

The USS Lake Erie (CG-70) and a Sikorsky MH-60R “Seahawk” helicopter represented the US.

Last week, Manila conducted separate naval exercises in the South China Sea, initially with the United States and subsequently with Japan.

A joint coast guard exercise is also scheduled off Manila Bay on Friday between the Philippines and Vietnam.

Vietnam’s 90-meter ship CSB 8002 docked in Manila on Monday, marking the start of five days of training exercises with the Philippines’ 83-meter offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang. The joint drills will encompass search and rescue simulations as well as fire and explosion prevention training, according to a Nikkei Asia report.

This collaboration follows an agreement between Manila and Beijing to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea, specifically regarding Philippine resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal.

The timing of the exercises also coincides with a change in Hanoi’s leadership after the death of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the official succession of Vietnamese President To Lam as party leader on Saturday, as highlighted by Nikkei Asia.

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