From Inquirer.net
PUERTO PRINCESA—The Philippines and the United States will launch naval exercises on Tuesday close to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), which is the focus of a simmering regional territorial row.
The longtime allies have emphasized the event is an annual one aimed at deepening defense ties, and not linked to rising concern in Manila about allegedly aggressive Chinese actions in the much coveted seas.
“The US and Philippine navies have a long history of working together, and exercises like (these) provide a great venue for us to hone our skills,” said the US commander for the 11-day exercises, Captain David Welch.
Nevertheless the exercises are being seen in Manila as a timely show of unity between the Philippines and its former colonial ruler.
Two state-of-the-art US missile destroyers, along with the host’s World War II-era warships, will patrol the Philippine waters of the Sulu Sea.
The Sulu Sea is separated from the West Philippine Sea only by the narrow island of Palawan.
China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims to parts of the South China Sea, which is believed to have vast oil and gas deposits, while its shipping lanes are vital for global trade.
Vietnam as well as the Philippines have in recent months accused China of taking increasingly aggressive actions in staking its claim to the disputed waters and its archipelagos.
In response, China has insisted it wants to resolve the territorial dispute peacefully but remained firm in its claims to most of the South China Sea, even waters within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile economic exclusion zone.
President Benigno Aquino III this month called for US help in containing China’s maritime ambitions, saying the Philippines was too weak to stand up to the Chinese alone.
Aquino made his plea after accusing China of inciting at least seven recent incidents in the disputed waters, including one in which a Chinese vessel allegedly opened fire on Filipino fishermen.
Aquino also accused China of breaking international law by entering the Philippines’ economic exclusion zone.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week offered the Philippines some comfort, pledging that the superpower ally would help to modernize the cash-strapped Philippine military.
“We are determined and committed to supporting the defense of the Philippines,” Clinton said.
No specifics were immediately announced but Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario later said the US government had vowed to boost the Philippines’ intelligence capabilities in the West Philippine Sea.
The Philippine-US exercises, called Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), officially begin at 3:00pm (0700 GMT) on Tuesday with an opening ceremony on Palawan island.
The first of the US vessels, the USS Chung-Hoon arrived at a pier in Palawan’s capital, Puerto Princesa, on Tuesday morning, greeted by a Philippine Navy band playing marching tunes.
US sailors in dress uniforms stood to attention as their vessel was guided into place by tugboats.
The second destroyer, the USS Howard, will arrive later in the day said Lieutenant Commander Mike Morley, spokesman of the US forces.
About 800 US sailors and 450 Philippine seamen will be involved in the exercises.
The United States is scheduled to stage similar exercises with Vietnam next month, although it has insisted they too are unrelated to the West Philippine Sea tensions.
Showing posts with label Spratly Islands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spratly Islands. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2011
Philippines, US navies in show of unity
From Inquirer.net
MANILA – State-of-the-art US missile destroyers will join ageing Philippine warships for naval exercises this week in a timely show of unity as tensions with China escalate over a maritime dispute.
The 11 days of exercises start on Tuesday off the southwest Philippine island of Palawan in the Sulu Sea, close to the disputed waters of the South China Sea where Manila has complained of increasing Chinese provocation.
Officially the training is an annual event not linked to the territorial row, but it nevertheless offers the Philippines comfort shortly after appealing to its longtime ally and former colonial power for help in containing China.
“The exercises show that the Philippines and the US are still very close. They (Philippine leaders) hope that the Chinese will be impressed by this,” said Ben Lim, a political science professor at Ateneo de Manila University.
“It will give the Philippines confidence in regard to diplomatic leverage. When they meet the Chinese again in peaceful negotiations, they can say ‘the Americans are on our side’.”
The Philippines has in recent months complained of allegedly increasingly aggressive actions by China in waters claimed by both nations in the strategically vital and potentially resource-rich South China Sea.
The Philippines and China – along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam – claim all or part of the South China Sea, and the area has long been considered one of Asia’s potential military flashpoints.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino this month accused China of inciting at least seven incidents recently, including one in which a Chinese vessel allegedly opened fire on Filipino fishermen.
He accused China of breaking international law by intruding within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile economic exclusion zone, and called on the United States for help in defending his country’s claims against the Chinese.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario last week travelled to Washington, where he won some backing from the United States as the superpower offered to help modernise the cash-strapped Philippine military.
“We are determined and committed to supporting the defence of the Philippines,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a joint news conference with del Rosario.
No specifics were immediately announced but del Rosario later said that US authorities had vowed to help boost the Philippines’ intelligence capabilities in the South China Sea.
Nevertheless, both nations have emphasized that the naval exercises starting Tuesday – named Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) – are part of long-term US efforts help the Philippine military.
“The US and Philippine navies have a long history of working together, and exercises like (these) provide a great venue for us to hone our skills and increase our interoperability,” US CARAT commander Captain David Welch said.
The United States will send 800 sailors and two guided missile destroyers, plus a diving and salvage ship, to the 17th staging of the exercises, the US military said in a press release.
Highlighting the disparity between the allies’ military capabilities, the Philippine navy said it would deploy two World War II-vintage vessels armed only with cannon for CARAT.
About 300 Philippine sailors will take part, according to navy spokesman Lieutenant Noel Cadigal.
The United States is scheduled to stage similar exercises with Vietnam next month, although it has insisted they too have nothing to do with South China Sea tensions.
Vietnam has made accusations similar to those of the Philippines over alleged Chinese actions in the South China Sea recently.
Amid the spike in tensions, China has repeatedly said it wants to solve the territorial disputes peacefully while warning the United States it has no role to play in the spats.
MANILA – State-of-the-art US missile destroyers will join ageing Philippine warships for naval exercises this week in a timely show of unity as tensions with China escalate over a maritime dispute.
The 11 days of exercises start on Tuesday off the southwest Philippine island of Palawan in the Sulu Sea, close to the disputed waters of the South China Sea where Manila has complained of increasing Chinese provocation.
Officially the training is an annual event not linked to the territorial row, but it nevertheless offers the Philippines comfort shortly after appealing to its longtime ally and former colonial power for help in containing China.
“The exercises show that the Philippines and the US are still very close. They (Philippine leaders) hope that the Chinese will be impressed by this,” said Ben Lim, a political science professor at Ateneo de Manila University.
“It will give the Philippines confidence in regard to diplomatic leverage. When they meet the Chinese again in peaceful negotiations, they can say ‘the Americans are on our side’.”
The Philippines has in recent months complained of allegedly increasingly aggressive actions by China in waters claimed by both nations in the strategically vital and potentially resource-rich South China Sea.
The Philippines and China – along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam – claim all or part of the South China Sea, and the area has long been considered one of Asia’s potential military flashpoints.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino this month accused China of inciting at least seven incidents recently, including one in which a Chinese vessel allegedly opened fire on Filipino fishermen.
He accused China of breaking international law by intruding within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile economic exclusion zone, and called on the United States for help in defending his country’s claims against the Chinese.
Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario last week travelled to Washington, where he won some backing from the United States as the superpower offered to help modernise the cash-strapped Philippine military.
“We are determined and committed to supporting the defence of the Philippines,” US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a joint news conference with del Rosario.
No specifics were immediately announced but del Rosario later said that US authorities had vowed to help boost the Philippines’ intelligence capabilities in the South China Sea.
Nevertheless, both nations have emphasized that the naval exercises starting Tuesday – named Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) – are part of long-term US efforts help the Philippine military.
“The US and Philippine navies have a long history of working together, and exercises like (these) provide a great venue for us to hone our skills and increase our interoperability,” US CARAT commander Captain David Welch said.
The United States will send 800 sailors and two guided missile destroyers, plus a diving and salvage ship, to the 17th staging of the exercises, the US military said in a press release.
Highlighting the disparity between the allies’ military capabilities, the Philippine navy said it would deploy two World War II-vintage vessels armed only with cannon for CARAT.
About 300 Philippine sailors will take part, according to navy spokesman Lieutenant Noel Cadigal.
The United States is scheduled to stage similar exercises with Vietnam next month, although it has insisted they too have nothing to do with South China Sea tensions.
Vietnam has made accusations similar to those of the Philippines over alleged Chinese actions in the South China Sea recently.
Amid the spike in tensions, China has repeatedly said it wants to solve the territorial disputes peacefully while warning the United States it has no role to play in the spats.
US asks China for lower tension at sea
HONOLULU – The United States on Saturday called for China to lower tensions in the South China Sea through dialogue as the Pacific powers held first-of-a-kind talks amid friction in Southeast Asia.
Senior US official Kurt Campbell said he told China during the talks in Hawaii that the United States welcomed a strong role for Beijing, which has warned Washington against involvement in the intensifying disputes.
“We had a candid and clear discussion about these issues,” Campbell, the assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters after the session in Honolulu.
“We want tensions to subside. We have a strong interest in the maintenance in peace and stability, and we are seeking a dialogue among all of the key players,” he said.
Incidents in recent weeks have heightened tension on the South China Sea, a strategic and potentially oil-rich area where China has sometimes overlapping disputes with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Vietnam carried out live-fire drills and the Philippines ordered the deployment of its naval flagship after accusing China of aggressive actions.
While the United States and China often talk, Saturday’s session was the first to focus specifically on the Asia-Pacific region. The dialogue was set up during the top-level Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington in May.
Senior US official Kurt Campbell said he told China during the talks in Hawaii that the United States welcomed a strong role for Beijing, which has warned Washington against involvement in the intensifying disputes.
“We had a candid and clear discussion about these issues,” Campbell, the assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific affairs, told reporters after the session in Honolulu.
“We want tensions to subside. We have a strong interest in the maintenance in peace and stability, and we are seeking a dialogue among all of the key players,” he said.
Incidents in recent weeks have heightened tension on the South China Sea, a strategic and potentially oil-rich area where China has sometimes overlapping disputes with Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.
Vietnam carried out live-fire drills and the Philippines ordered the deployment of its naval flagship after accusing China of aggressive actions.
While the United States and China often talk, Saturday’s session was the first to focus specifically on the Asia-Pacific region. The dialogue was set up during the top-level Strategic and Economic Dialogue in Washington in May.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Singapore urges China to clarify South China Seas claim
Singapore has called on China to clarify its claims in the South China Sea following recent confrontations with Vietnam and the Philippines.
Singapore said China's "ambiguity" had caused international concern.
Singapore has no territorial claims in the area, but said it had an interest "in anything affecting freedom of navigation in international sea lanes".
Several Asian nations claim parts of the strategically important waters that may also contain oil and gas deposits.
Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia have competing claims to the Spratly Islands, while Beijing and Hanoi are in dispute over the Paracels.
Disputes debated
In a statement, Singapore's foreign ministry said: "We... think it is in China's own interests to clarify its claims in the SCS (South China Sea) with more precision as the current ambiguity as to their extent has caused serious concerns in the international maritime community."
It lays no claim to the disputed waters but, along with the rest of the region and the US, it has a strong interest in freedom of navigation.
Singapore is a major trading nation and also hosts a US naval facility.
The statement came after one of China's largest maritime surveillance ships, the Haixun 31, docked in the city-state after passing through the South China Sea.
The Haixun-31, which left China last Wednesday, intended to monitor shipping and "protect maritime security" on its way to Singapore, Chinese state media reported at the time.
Singapore's foreign ministry said there was an unusual amount of interest in the ship.
Tensions in the long-standing dispute have escalated in recent weeks, with Vietnam and the Philippines accusing China of increasingly aggressive actions in the pursuit of its maritime claims.
For the third week running, anti-China demonstrations have been held in Vietnam.
Vietnam staged a live-fire exercise last week near disputed waters, which Chinese state media denounced as a military show of force.
China has publicised a series of recent military exercises off its coasts, and Vietnam has planned exercises with the US next month.
Singapore said China's "ambiguity" had caused international concern.
Singapore has no territorial claims in the area, but said it had an interest "in anything affecting freedom of navigation in international sea lanes".
Several Asian nations claim parts of the strategically important waters that may also contain oil and gas deposits.
Vietnam, China, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia have competing claims to the Spratly Islands, while Beijing and Hanoi are in dispute over the Paracels.
Disputes debated
In a statement, Singapore's foreign ministry said: "We... think it is in China's own interests to clarify its claims in the SCS (South China Sea) with more precision as the current ambiguity as to their extent has caused serious concerns in the international maritime community."
It lays no claim to the disputed waters but, along with the rest of the region and the US, it has a strong interest in freedom of navigation.
Singapore is a major trading nation and also hosts a US naval facility.
The statement came after one of China's largest maritime surveillance ships, the Haixun 31, docked in the city-state after passing through the South China Sea.
The Haixun-31, which left China last Wednesday, intended to monitor shipping and "protect maritime security" on its way to Singapore, Chinese state media reported at the time.
Singapore's foreign ministry said there was an unusual amount of interest in the ship.
Tensions in the long-standing dispute have escalated in recent weeks, with Vietnam and the Philippines accusing China of increasingly aggressive actions in the pursuit of its maritime claims.
For the third week running, anti-China demonstrations have been held in Vietnam.
Vietnam staged a live-fire exercise last week near disputed waters, which Chinese state media denounced as a military show of force.
China has publicised a series of recent military exercises off its coasts, and Vietnam has planned exercises with the US next month.
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