MANILA, April 26 ------ The naval vessels of the Philippines, the United States, and France set sail, marking the start of the multilateral maritime exercise (MME) for Balikatan Exercises 2024. Participating ships — the Philippine Navy’s BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), and the French Navy’s Vendemiaire — left Puerto Princesa City, Palawan at 9 a.m., Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command spokesperson Captain Ariel Coloma said. The United States Navy’s USS Harpers Ferry followed around noon.
The navies of the 3 countries ventured into the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines in the West Philippine Sea for the joint sail component of the annual bilateral exercise between Manila and Washington. The activity, which is taking place beyond the Philippines’ territorial waters for the first time, will see the navies conducting various drills, including division tactics, gunnery exercises, and maritime search and rescue. “They have lined up training activities. In fact, upon reaching the eastern coast natin ng Palawan, mag-uumpisa na sila ng kanilang mga division tactics. They will be sailing together na sa east coast pa lang, then going up north up to Mindoro Strait and papasok na sila ng West Philippine Sea. Tuluy-tuloy ang exercises, like ang photo exercise, gunnery exercise,” Coloma told reporters in a phone interview.
The MME will run until April 29, after which participating ships will proceed to their respective maritime commitments, he said. “After April 29, ang mga barko natin magbi-break away na dahil may iba-iba rin silang commitments sa Balikatan. Si LD-602 April 30 committed for the amphibious assault. Then si PS-16 and FS Vendemiaire will be doing bilateral sail naman. Si USS Harpers Ferry will proceed independently kung saan man siya susunod na mag-ooperate,” Coloma said.
The bilateral sail to be conducted by BRP Ramon Alcaraz and the French frigate Vendemiaire is not part of the Balikatan. Aside from enhancing the country’s interoperability with allies and partner nations, Coloma said the Balikatan will also strengthen the capacity of Filipino troops. “Ang mga bagong kagamitan natin mate-test natin. Ang techniques, tactics and procedures natin, mga doktrina natin mapa-practice ulit natin at mare-reaffirm if it’s still applicable with the help of our allies,” he said. “Itong MME would really help us wield ‘yung defense capabilities natin kasi ang security challenges natin, we share the same with our partner nations and allies. It’s really very timely din that we train with them in unforeseen scenarios, even disasters at sea. We can respond together seamlessly, walang magiging problems," the official also said.
CHINA PRESENCE
Asked if they expected China to make its presence felt during the MME, the Wescom spokesperson said, “Kasama naman po iyan sa considerations ng planners natin for Balikatan. There are protocols for that. May mga sinusunod naman ang ating mga pwersa at troops on the ground how to deal with this scenario at sea.” While China is not expected to interfere in the MME, Coloma said they were prepared to implement contingency measures for such an event. “We monitor them and we record their presence diyan sa area natin within our EEZ. In terms of the Balikatan, we will push through with the events lined up for our ships and units at sea… Of course, this has been planned already and we have been doing this exercise time and again every year. This time around, for 2024, we have scheduled the MME and done the careful planning for this event. I don’t see any reason para hindi ito mag-push through,” Coloma noted. “On the operational perspective, we from the tactical level and operators on the ground, we don’t expect or want that [China interfering in exercise], but if in case may ganun, our troops are ready and will abide by the protocols and regulations na nakapaloob,” he added.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION
The Philippine Navy on Tuesday confirmed the surge of Chinese maritime militia vessels (CMMVs) in the West Philippine Sea as Manila and Washington formally opened Exercise Balikatan. Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said the CMMVs monitored in Philippine-occupied features rose to 110 as of April Monday from 69 CMMVs on April 8.
Asked in a separate interview if the surge of Chinese ships in the West Philippine Sea posed any challenge to Philippine and American forces conducting the drills, Balikatan 2024 Director Maj. Gen. Marvin Licudine said they have considered and included this in the planning process. “We have highly considered the presence of the Chinese maritime militia in these areas, particularly in our EEZ. I believe that at the operational and tactical level, the commanders have already taken into consideration in their planning how to address the problems on the militia,” Licudine said during the Balikatan 2024 Media Night at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday. “We would like to emphasize that we adhere to international law and the seas beyond our EEZ are international waters, and we adhere to the freedom of navigation of all ships going and passing through these areas. That is what we are trying to preserve for the benefit of the whole region and to attain a stable regional situation so we can have—our countries in the ASEAN—prosperity and stability,” he added.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com