PH, US, France hold WPS maritime exercise for Balikatan 2024

The Philippines, the United States and France on Thursday conducted a multilateral maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) as part of this year’s Balikatan exercises.

“As we speak, nagse-set sail na po yung mga barko natin (our ships are already setting sail), from here sa Puerto Princesa,” Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western Command (Wescom) spokesperson Captain Ariel Coloma told reporters.

Among the participating warships departing from Palawan were the Philippine Navy’s BRP Ramon Alcaraz, an offshore patrol vessel and BRP Davao del Sur, a landing platform dock; the Marine Nationale (French Navy) frigate FS Vendémiaire; and US Navy amphibious warfare ship USS Harpers Ferry, according to 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,” Coloma said.

(They have lined up training activities. In fact, upon reaching the eastern coast of Palawan, they will begin their division tactics, officer of watch maneuvers.)

“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,” he added.

(They will be sailing together already on the east coast then going up north up to Mindoro Strait then they will enter the WPS. So the exercise will continue including the photo exercise and then the gunnery exercise, that will be until April 29.)

Coloma said the MME aims to enhance the interoperability and capacity of the Philippines and allied countries as well as to test their new equipment, techniques, tactics, procedures for defense.

According to a 24 Oras report by Ian Cruz, the ships are patrolling the Sulu Sea at the same time. 

From the Sulu Sea, they will go to the West Philippine Sea for the anticipated group sail.

For the first time, a Balikatan exercise will go outside the 12 nautical-mile limit of the country's territorial waters and go to the WPS, which is still within the Philippines' 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zone, and where China vessels regularly intrude.

"It's very significant to show that we have partners specifically on ensuring maritime security within the Indo Pacific-Region," said Commander Marco Sandalo, Commanding Officer of the BRP Davao del Sur. 

On Tuesday, the Philippine Navy said there are now 110 Chinese militia vessels in the WPS.  

These do not include the scattered ships of the China Coast Guard and warships of the People's Liberation Army-Navy.

Sandalo was asked about the possibility of Chinese vessels' heading towards the area where the Balikatan exercises are being held.

"Sa tingin ko walang magiging problema because this is an annual event naman between the US and the Philippines, and we will continue with our exercise," he said. 

(I don't think there will be a problem because this is an annual event between the US and the Philippines, and we will continue with our exercise.)

The 39th Balikatan joint military exercise, which started on April 22 and will end on May 10, is the biggest iteration to date, with some 16,700 participating troops from the Philippines and US.

According to Philippine Navy spokesperson for the WPS Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the number of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea has increased amid 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,” he said.

“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,” he added.

China

For its part, China said it “opposes external interference, muscle flexing, provocations and harassment in the South China Sea, and opposes piecing together exclusive circles or bloc confrontation.”

“Drawing forces outside the region or countries not directly concerned into the issue will only further complicate the situation and make it harder to solve,” said Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson Wu Qian.

“The Chinese military is closely following relevant moves, and will resolutely respond with effective measures. We will never allow anyone to sow chaos the South China Sea,” he said. — with Sherylin Untalan and Sundy Locus/RF/BM, GMA Integrated News