Philippines mulling sea patrols with U.S., Aussies

MANILA, PHILIPPINES » The Philippines is in talks with the United States as well as Australia on future joint patrols in the South China Sea, where China's increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters are causing concern, top defense officials in the three nations said Wednesday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called his Philippine counterpart, Carlito Galvez Jr., to reiterate Washington's support and commitment to help defend its oldest treaty ally in Asia after a Chinese coast guard aimed a militarygrade laser at a Philippine patrol vessel near a disputed shoal.

The Feb. 6 incident off Second Thomas Shoal briefly blinded some of the Filipino crew and prompted Manila to file a strongly worded diplomatic protest.

“The two leaders discussed proposals to deepen operational cooperation and enhance the United States and the Philippines' shared security, including the recent decision to resume combined maritime activities in the South China Sea,” according to details of the phone conversation provided by Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder.

During Austin's visit to Manila this month, Galvez and U.S. officials had said the allies agreed to carry out joint patrols.

Separately, Galvez and visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Wednesday that they were looking at Australian and Philippine forces possibly carrying out their joint patrols.

As countries asserting the rule of law, including the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, in the South China Sea, where a bulk of Australia's trade traverses, “we did talk today about the possibility of exploring joint patrols,” Marles said.

Australian and Philippine forces have undertaken joint patrols off the southern Philippines in the past to counter terrorist threats, Galvez had said. added, “We can do it again.”

Aside from the United States, Australia is the only other country that struck a defense agreement with the Philippines for joint combat exercises in the country. The Philippine Constitution prohibits the permanent basing of foreign troops.

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