PHL ship back at Manila port after Japan drills

THE PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) on Wednesday reported the arrival of the BRP Teresa Magbanua and the 123-member delegation in a Manila port after its second joint trilateral maritime exercise in Kagoshima, Japan.

The exercise, conducted with the Japan Coast Guard and US Coast Guard, highlighted the significance of maritime cooperation, bolstering ties between the nations as tensions persist in the contested South China Sea.

“The trilateral exercise not only enhanced interoperability among the participating Coast Guards, but also strengthened their collective capability to respond to maritime emergencies and natural disasters,” the PCG said in a statement.

“It also served as a vital platform to exchange best practices, improve operational synergy, and reaffirm the shared commitment to uphold safety, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”

The exercise included Communication Exercise, Search and Rescue Exercise, Fire Fighting Exercise, Photo Exercise, and Exercise on Transfer of Personnel.

The Philippines has sought to expand its security ties beyond its traditional ally, the US, engaging with other western countries and regional allies as it faces an increasingly assertive China over disputed features in the South China Sea.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea via a U-shaped, 1940s nine-dash line map that overlaps with the exclusive waters of the Philippines, resulting in clashes at disputed maritime features, as both the countries uphold their claims in the marine-rich water.

KASANGGA EXERCISE
Also on Wednesday, the Philippines and Australia have concluded their first joint military exercises in southern Philippines on Tuesday, Manila’s army said,

The Philippine Army and Australian Defense Force ended Exercise Kasangga — Filipino for ally — in Cagayan de Oro City in the major island of Mindanao, ending a month-long training between their soldiers that involved jungle and urban warfare drills. 

“Let us nurture this alliance, institutionalize our gains, and work tirelessly to contribute to upholding the peace and stability of our region,” Philippine Lieutenant General Rex Luis D. Bergante, chief of the Philippine military’s southern command, said in a statement.

Australia has been one of Manila’s closest allies in the region, and in 2007, the two countries forged a visiting forces agreement allowing their troops to hold joint exercises in each other’s territories. The pact came into force in 2012.

More than 140 troops of Philippines combat engineers and infantry divisions alongside 90 Australian Army soldiers participated in drills that saw their forces practice combat casualty care, reconnaissance operations and breaching exercises, the Philippine Army said.

The top brass of Manila’s army said the drills helped advance both the countries’ commitment to deepening security ties and in keeping the stability of the Indo-Pacific region.

“The bilateral training… marks a significant advancement in both countries’ defense cooperation and shared commitment as strategic partners,” it said. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio