US missile cruiser docks at Subic

A US Navy missile cruiser has dropped anchor in Subic Bay as part of “routine port call,” amid rising tension in the West Philippine Sea stirred by China’s island building activities and other threatening moves by its forces.

The arrival of the Ticonderoga-class missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG-67) at the Subic Bay Freeport in Olongapo City yesterday was “just a routine port visit for ship replenishment and routine maintenance of shipboard system,” said Philippine Navy Public Affairs Office (PN-PAO) chief Commander Lued

Lincuna.

The US embassy in Manila, in a press statement, said the

USS Shiloh will immediately leave Subic after replenishing its supplies to perform patrol mission in the Pacific.

The Shiloh’s port call at Subic was the first for a US warship since last year’s killing of Filipino transgender Jeffrey “Jennifer” Laude by US Marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton.

The embassy said the multirole warship is capable of carrying two SH-60 Seahawk multipurpose helicopters that are primarily for anti- submarine warfare.

The missile cruiser is part of the forward- deployed naval forces of the US 7th Fleet, whose responsibility covers the Asia-Pacific region.

The arrival of the warship came amid a raging word war between the US and China over security issues in the region.

Recently, Chinese forces ordered a US Poseidon surveillance plane to leave as it flew over the Spratly archipelago. The US aircraft ignored the warning.

After the incident, the Pentagon said the US would never recognize any Chinese restriction on air and sea travel in the region.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) concluded yesterday with the US Coast Guard a Small Boat Operation Course as part of a continuing collaboration between the two countries on improving maritime security, the US embassy in Manila said.

The two- week course was conducted at the PCG Southern Tagalog District Offi ce in Batangas City.

Fifteen PCG personnel from Southern Tagalog and Bicol engaged in practical exercises designed to develop boat handling skills, engineering casualty control, and safe overboard recovery.

The State Department Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Program provided funding for the course.

EXBS will also support attendance by PCG personnel in training courses at the US Coast Guard Academy.

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