MANILA – Against a backdrop of tension between Manila and Beijing, the Philippines and the United States began joint military exercises yesterday that will include mock beach invasions along coastlines facing China.
The exercises are taking place as a maritime stand-off between China and the Philippines continues in the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed string of rock outcroppings 124 nautical miles west of Luzon Island in the northern part of the Philippines.
Philippine officials stressed repeatedly that the military exercises, in the southwestern island province of Palawan and around Luzon, were not linked to the Scarborough Shoal stand-off and not meant to provoke China.
The military exercises were planned “way, way ahead” of the current situation in the Scarborough Shoal, President Benigno S Aquino III said yesterday.
At the opening ceremonies of the exercises, the chief of staff of the Philippine armed forces, Lt Gen Jessie D Dellosa, said regional concerns were being addressed by strengthening the military alliance with the United States.
“The conduct of this annual event reflects the aspirations to further relations with our strategic ally, a commitment that has to be nurtured especially in the context of the evolving challenges in the region,” Lt Gen Dellosa said.
The stand-off at the Scarborough Shoal began on Sunday, April 8th, when Philippine surveillance aircraft spotted Chinese fishing boats near the shoal, which both China and the Philippines claim. The Philippine navy sent a 378ft patrol frigate, its largest warship, to search the fishing vessels.
Last Tuesday, two Chinese ships took positions blocking the Philippine navy vessel’s access to the fishing boats.
Last Wednesday, the Philippines pulled out the warship and replaced it with a smaller coast guard vessel. The Chinese fishing boats were allowed to leave the area with their catch, which the Philippines contends was illegally obtained. – (New York Times)