PH, US coast guards join military drills in West Philippine Sea

(From front) BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16), USCG Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752), and BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV 9702) sail during the 6th bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity on May 20.

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine and US coast guards participated for the first time in joint military drills, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Wednesday, joining broader exercises held by the two allies in the West Philippine Sea.

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which more than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no merit.

The “maritime cooperative activity” was held Tuesday in waters off Palawan and Occidental Mindoro in the western Philippines.

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The two countries’ coast guards have held joint exercises before, but never as part of combined military drills which Manila’s armed forces said reflected a “growing whole-of-nation approach to maritime cooperation”.

The Philippine coast guard deployed its 97-meter (320-foot) ship BRP Melchora Aquino and 44-meter ship BRP Malapascua while the US coast guard used the cutter Stratton, the Philippine military said in the statement.

The coast guard vessels joined Philippine navy and air force assets and US navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in a series of exercises including communication checks, search and rescue and division tactics.

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“As the Philippines continues to navigate evolving maritime challenges, joint activities like the MCA reaffirm the (Philippine military’s) commitment to modernizing its capabilities and strengthening defense partnerships to secure our national and regional maritime interests,” Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said.

China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment. /dl