MANILA, Philippines — It was a show of force and test of interoperability by the militaries of the Philippines, the United States and other major allies, which kicked off their joint maneuvers in different parts of the country both at sea and on land on Monday.
In the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine Navy and the US Navy conducted anti-submarine and night patrol exercises as part of their Sama-Sama (together) military drills. Japan, Australia, Canada and France will later join the exercise.
The naval maneuver took place against the backdrop of the increasing number of Chinese vessels – including warships – in the West Philippine Sea.
Based on monitoring by the Philippine Navy, Chinese vessels in Philippine waters totaled 34 from Oct. 7 to 13, up from 28 the previous week.
In Pili, Camarines Norte and in other parts of the Bicol Region, Filipino and Australian soldiers held war drills as part of the second leg of this year’s Exercise Kasangga 2024.
The joint exercise, involving 216 Philippine Army personnel and 50 Australian soldiers, will run until Nov. 8.
The Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), meanwhile, is spearheading a two-week capability enhancement drill dubbed as Joint, Combined and Inter-Agency Maritime Security Training Exercise.
AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the launch on Monday of the Sama-Sama advanced maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea was a success.
Participating in the naval exercise were the Philippine Navy’s guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal and US Navy destroyer USS Howard.
“Focusing on anti-submarine warfare and joint patrol operations, the exercise highlights both nations’ commitment to enhancing interoperability and collective defense capabilities in maritime security,” Trinidad said.
Monday’s activities, he said, included the Combined Anti-Submarine Exercise (CASEX) involving Torpedo Exercises using the Expandable Mobile Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Target.
He noted that both navies were able to hone their anti-submarine warfare techniques in a realistic and controlled environment.
In addition to CASEX, both navies also conducted Joint and Combined Patrol (Night Steaming in Company), simulating real-world scenarios of patrolling contested waters.
“This drill aimed to enhance coordination between participating units in a nighttime operational setting, improving response capabilities in crisis situations,” he explained.
Trinidad said Philippine and US naval forces also executed Search and Rescue Exercises and Shipboard Casualty Care drills, “further demonstrating their readiness to respond to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.”
Trinidad said the ongoing Sea Phase of Sama-Sama 2024 highlighted the shared objective of both the Philippines and the US to address maritime security challenges through cooperation and joint operations.
“These activities not only focused on combat readiness but also on humanitarian assistance and disaster response, integral aspects of modern naval operations,” he added.
He emphasized that the participation later of the Royal Canadian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and other allied navies would be another demonstration of commitment of the Philippines and its allies to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Trinidad said Sama-Sama 2024, now on its seventh iteration, “represents the continuing evolution of bilateral maritime exercises, fostering stronger relationships among participating forces and enhancing overall regional security capabilities.”
Land drills
In Camarines Norte, Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala said soldiers of the 9th Infantry Division based in Camp Elias Angeles made up the Philippine contingent in the Exercise Kasangga 2024 with Australian troops.
Dema-ala said the combined exercise covers critical areas of military operations such as urban operations, close combat techniques, combat shooting and tactical casualty care.
Soldiers will also undergo training in explosive assault breaching, cybersecurity operations, mortar gunnery with forward observers and Civil-Military Operations exchanges, he said.
Earlier, from May to June, the first leg of the joint training exercises was held in Gamu, Isabela involving at least 100 Filipino soldiers from the 86th Infantry Battalion of the 5th Infantry Division and 50 troops from the Australian Army.
The first leg of the exercises covered reconnaissance, mortar, drone operations, logistics, signal operations, jungle and urban warfare, tactical combat casualty care and breaching operations.
In Zamboanga City, Westmincom chief Lt. Gen. William Gonzalez said JCIMSTX seeks to enhance and synergize maritime security and operation readiness through collaboration among the difference military security units of the AFP, their foreign counterparts and relevant law enforcement agencies within the operation area of his command.
Also yesterday, the Philippine Navy denounced the Chinese for their “continued illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea” that it said “blatantly disregards the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling and violates our sovereignty and sovereign rights.”
“This also highlights the need to continue modernizing the defense and security capabilities of the AFP. We in the AFP remain committed to upholding international law and defending the integrity of our national territory,” the Navy said in a statement. - Sheila Crisostomo