Philippine, US navies hold bilateral sail in Palawan

The Philippine Navy and the United States Navy are now conducting a bilateral sail in the Philippine waters west of Palawan, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said on Monday.

In a statement, the AFP said the AFP Western Command’s Naval Task Force 41 and the US 7th fleet will carry out a Division Tactics rehearsal to enhance the interoperability between the two navies.

They will use the Philippine Navy’s guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal and the US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Ralph Johnson.

The AFP said the activity is done under the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board framework, which aims to develop operational interoperability between the Philippines and the US.

“The AFP shall continue to be involved in bilateral and multilateral activities that will contribute to the AFP's capability development to perform its mission of protecting the country's national sovereignty and national territory,” the AFP said.

In July, the Philippines and the US committed to stepping up maritime policy and operational cooperation following a meeting of their respective representatives in Washington, D.C.

At the Philippines-United States Maritime Dialogue, they committed to maintaining the rules-based international order in the West Philippine Sea.

This is in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the 2016 arbitral ruling that invalidated China's massive claims in the vital sea lane, they added. — Joviland Rita/BM, GMA Integrated News