MANILA, Philippines- Nagsagawa ang Pilipinas, United States at France nitong Huwebes ng multilateral maritime exercise sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) bilang bahagi ng Balikatan Exercise ngayong taon.
“As we speak, nagse-set sail na po yung mga barko natin, from here sa Puerto Princesa,” pahayag ni Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western Command (Wescom) spokesperson Captain Ariel Coloma.
Lumisan sa Palawan ang Philippine Navy’s BRP Ramon Alcaraz, isang offshore patrol vessel at BRP Davao del Sur, isang Landing Platform Dock; ang Marine Nationale (French Navy) frigate FS Vendémiaire; at US Navy amphibious warfare ship USS Harpers Ferry, base kay Coloma.
“They have lined training activities. In fact, upon reaching eastern coast ng Palawan, mag-uumpisa na sila ng kanilang mga division tactics, officer of watch maneuvers,” wika ng opisyal.
“They will be sailing together na sa east coast pa lang then going up north up to Mindoro Strait then papasok na sila ng WPS. So tuloy-tuloy rin yung exercise like yung photo exercise at saka gunnery exercise, that will be until April 29,” dagdag niya.
Ani Coloma, nilalayon ng MME na paghusayin ang interoperability at kapasidad ng Pilipinas at mga kaalyadong bansa gayundin ay suriin ang bagong equipment, techniques, tactics, at procedures for defense.
Tinagurian ang 39th Balikatan joint military exercise, na nagsimula noong April 22 at matatapos sa May 10, na pinakamalaking iteration ng aktibidad kung saan 16,700 ang kalahok na sundalo mula sa Pilipinas at US.
Ayon kay Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, dumami ang Chinese vessels sa WPS sa gitna ng Balikatan.
“Our monitoring for the past two months for March and April has given us a fairly constant—from a low of 33 and a high of 69, and average of 60 various vessels of China,” anang opisyal.
“Only for this week that we have seen a surge of up to a total of 124. Three People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and (China) Coast Guard having 10. This coincides with Balikatan. This upsurge is out of the normal,” dagdag niya. RNT/SA
