Aussie troops may soon join Balikatan

MANILA, Philippines - Australia is exploring the possibility of joining the Balikatan military exercises between the Philippines and the United States, the Department of National Defense (DND) said yesterday.

In a statement, the DND said the issue was discussed during the 11th Joint Defense Cooperation Committee meeting held from Oct. 24 to 25 in Manila.

“Explored in the meeting were Australian troops taking part in Philippine-US Balikatan exercises and Philippine forces joining the Australian Kakadu and Pitch Black Exercises,” the statement read.

DND spokesman Peter Galvez said the matter was still in the planning stage and would be subject to further discussions.

He said an agreement between the Philippines, the US and Australia is needed to make Balikatan a trilateral exercise.

Balikatan literally means “shoulder to shoulder” and is an annual exercise intended to boost the interoperability between US and Philippine troops. The activity is in line with the Mutual Defense Treaty signed by the two countries in 1951.

Australia and the Philippines have their own military drills, including the recently concluded Lumbas naval exercises.

Lumbas 2012 was held last month and was participated in by around 150 Philippine Navy personnel and 200 Australian Navy troops.

The 11th Joint Defense Cooperation Committee was held three months after the Senate ratified the Philippines-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement.

During the meeting, Australia vowed to continue helping the Philippines build its defense capability and offered a number of training courses and experts for next year.

The DND said Australia had reiterated its view that the West Philippine Sea dispute should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

“Philippine efforts to maintain peace and stability over the West Philippine Sea (were) also acknowledged,” DND said.

“While it (Australia) does not take sides as to which owns what, it supports the resolution of the issue in accordance with the UNCLOS and along the principles embodied in the ASEAN-China Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea,” it added.

The Philippines is claiming several islets, shoals, reefs and sandbars in the West Philippine Sea, which is claimed in whole by China. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the area.

The DND said the Philippines had briefed Australia about its plans to refocus its defense functions as it moves from internal security to territorial defense.

“The Philippines and Australia expressed commitment to further enhance bilateral defense relations, with both sides looking forward to a more comprehensive, dynamic and strengthened defense cooperation,” it said. – Alexis Romero