PH, Japan, US to hold maritime exercises
THE Philippines will, for the first time this week, hold maritime exercises with two of its closest allies — the United States and Japan.
The trilateral exercises, to be conducted off Mariveles, Bataan from June 1 to 7, will involve around 400 personnel from the three countries, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Monday.
The PCG will deploy BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702), BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301), BRP Boracay (FPB-2401) and one 44-meter multi-role response vessel for the activity.
On the other hand, the US Coast Guard (USCG) will dispatch its third Legend-class cutter, the USCGC Stratton (WMSL-752), while the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) will send Akitsushima (PLH-32).
Coast guard personnel who will participate in the weeklong event will demonstrate a scenario involving a suspected vessel involved in piracy, the PCG said.
Meanwhile, the joint law enforcement team from the coast guards of the three participating countries will conduct a boarding inspection followed by a search and rescue operation.
The PCG said the trilateral maritime exercises aim to strengthen interoperability through communication and maneuvering drills, maritime law enforcement training, search-and-rescue and passing exercises.
PCG officer in charge, Vice Admiral Rolando Lizor Punzalan Jr., said the activity will also improve maritime cooperation and understanding.
“The US Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard have been assisting us in our human resource development program, particularly in law enforcement training,” said Punzalan. “This is a good opportunity to thank and show them what our personnel learned from their programs.”
PCG spokesman Rear Admiral Armand Balilo said the trilateral exercises are not related to the West Philippine Sea dispute between the Philippines and China.
“This is search and rescue, and law enforcement. It has nothing to do with the West Philippine Sea [dispute],” Balilo said.
“We’ve always had separate exercises with the US and Japan,” he pointed out. “But this is the first time that all three countries will be conducting exercises together.”
Last month, the 38th iteration of the Balikatan exercise was held in different parts of Luzon that involved more than 17,000 Filipino and US soldiers training side-by-side in a spectrum of military operations, considered the largest joint military exercise so far between the Philippines and the US.
The PCG said an arrival ceremony scheduled on Thursday, June 1 at Pier 15 of Manila’s South Harbor will welcome the US and Japanese contingents.
Expected to attend the ceremony that will also signal the start of the maritime exercises are Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista, US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay
Carlson, Japanese Deputy Chief of Mission and Minister Kenichi Matsuda, and Japan International Cooperation Agency Chief Philippine Representative Takema Sakamoto.