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MetroVan Independent News
April 2016
3
NEWS
PH-US War Games
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The Philippine Supreme Court ruled
in January 2016 that the deal is
constitutional.
Some 5,000 US troops are taking part
along with nearly 4,000 Philippine soldiers
and 80 from Australia.
"The... exercises caps Manila's recent
attempts to involve outsiders in (a) regional
row," China's official news agency Xinhua
said in a commentary.
It cited Japan, which sent a submarine
on a visit to the Philippines last weekend,
and Australia.
"However, a provocation so fearmongering and untimely as such is likely
to boomerang on the initiators," Xinhua
added.
China lays claim to almost all of the
South China Sea, despite partial counterclaims by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan,
Vietnam and the Philippines.
In recent years it has built major
structures including radar systems and
airstrips over reclaimed reefs and outcrops,
sparking international concern it could
impose military controls over the entire
area.
The US does not take sides in the
territorial disputes but has asserted the
importance of keeping sea and air routes
open.
It has sent US bombers and warships
on patrol close to the Chinese construction
activity in recent months, infuriating Beijing.
Lieutenant-General John Toolan,
commander of US Marine Corps forces
in the Pacific, told reporters in Manila the
exercises would help the allies improve
maritime security and maintain regional
stability.
"Our alliance is strong. The United
States is committed to this relationship
and these are not empty words.... peace
in Southeast Asia depends on our
cooperation," Toolan added.
The exercises come ahead of a decision
this year by a United Nations-backed
tribunal on a legal challenge by Manila to
China's territorial claims.
The Philippines is also preparing to host
US troops at 5 bases under a defense pact
born out of US President Barack Obama's
plan to reassert American influence in the
Pacific.
– Rappler.com
Balikatan 2016 a test of
Philippines' new military assets
MANILA - The Philippines’ new military
assets will be put to the test in this year’s
Balikatan joint exercises with the United
States, which will kick off on Monday.
Among the new assets that will
participate in the joint drills are the landing
craft provided to the Philippine Navy by
Australia. The Philippines acquired five
decommissioned ships from Australia for
P726 million. The first two ships arrived
last August while the three others were
delivered last month.
Cpt. Celeste Frank Sayson, spokesman
of the Philippine contingent to Balikatan,
said the vessels will join a mobility exercise
that seeks to enhance the security forces’
capability to respond to disasters.
“The mobility exercise will train our
soldiers to move logistics on a massive
scale. It will be the first time we will
conduct such [an] exercise with our US
counterparts,” Sayson told The STAR in a
phone interview on Sunday.
He said the movement of supplies
would be massive since it would involve
more than a battalion, or 500 troopers.
Such a deployment is now possible
because of the Navy's new ships.
Sayson explained that during previous
humanitarian operations, the troop
deployments were piecemeal and involved
only companies, or about 100 soldiers, due
to limited equipment.
The logistics drills will be held in Panay,
an island in the Western Visayas. At least
two of the five ships acquired from Australia
are expected to join the mobility exercise.
At least one Navy frigate and alternative
lift platforms will also be deployed for the
activity.
Other assets that are expected to
participate in the logistics exercise include
M113 armored personnel carriers, the
FA-50 lead-in f