MANILA, Philippines- Isasagawa ang mga aktibidad para sa Balikatan, ang annual joint military exercise ng Pilipinas at ng United States, sa labas ng territorial waters ng bansa sa unang pagkakataon mula nang umarangkada ito.
Sa isang press conference, sinabi ni Balikatan’s executive agent Colonel Michael Logico na kasado ang mga aktibidad na ito lampas 12 nautical miles o “22.22 kilometers off the west coast of Palawan.”
“We will be utilizing the western side of Palawan, extending beyond our 12 nautical miles so this is also a new thing. We have done group sails before but this time we will be going beyond our 12 nautical mile limitation,” wika ni Logico.
“In previous exercises, we’ve been limited to just 12 nautical miles, now we are encouraging or we are venturing outwards beyond that,” dagdag ng opisyal.
Ayon pa kay Logico, itinuturing nang international waters ang lugar na lampas sa 12 nautical miles.
“A group sail is a maritime exercise and the events that take place there will be a combination of division tactics; search and rescue; vehicle, boarding, search, and seizure exercises; gunnery exercises; deck landing qualifications, well deck operations,” wika ng Army officer.
Sinabi pa ni Logico, lilipat ang mga kalahok mula Point A patungo sa Point B sa West Philippine Sea.
Kabilang sa mga kalahok sa 2024 edition ng Balikatan ang mga unit ng Philippine Navy, US Navy, French Navy at ng Philippine Coast Guard.
“The message that we want to send is that we are serious about defending our territory and we have allies. That’s basically it and the alliance is still going strong,” patuloy niya.
Lalahukan ang Balikatan para sa taong ito ng 16,000 sundalo kabilang ang 11,000 US at 5,000 Philippine personnel, base kay Logico.
Halos 14 bansa rin ang magsisilbing observers. RNT/SA
