THE Philippines, the United States, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, and Australia are set to launch a military exercise that includes live-fire training off Ilocos Norte.
The 11-day exercise, dubbed “Kamandag 08-24,” will formally open at the Navy Officers Club in Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City on Tuesday next week.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. yesterday said raised the issue on maritime disputes and growing tension in the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea during the Association of Southeast Asian Nation Summit (ASEAN) in Laos as he reiterated the Philippines’ continued adherence to the rule of law.
The President, in an interview with the media in Laos, said he mentioned recent incidents without getting into the details.
“I didn’t specify the details but it is just the general principle of the adherence to the rule of law and the UNCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea). Just as a general theme. We will have a chance to get into more detail maybe in the next couple of days,” he said.
Marcos reiterated the Philippines has been adhering to the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award in its efforts to address and manage disputes and tension with China.
The Philippines won its case against China in the 2016 Arbitral award that declared Beijing’s claims on the South China Sea, based on its nine-dash line theory, have no legal basis. China does not recognize the ruling.
The Philippines has been holding military drills in the West Philippine Sea with the United States and other allies. Officials have been saying that the military exercises are meant to improve interoperability and hone skills to address external threats, including from China which has been aggressively asserting its claim over the entire South China Sea, even parts being claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
China has been harassing Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea, particularly at Ayungin Shoal, by firing water cannons and making dangerous maneuvers.
The latest harassment incident was last Tuesday when Chinese vessels fired water cannons at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) at the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc and Panatag Shoal.
Scarborough, about 124 nautical miles from Zambales, is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. China gained control of the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with Philippine government vessels, and has since been preventing Filipinos from fishing in the shoal’s lagoon.
Navy spokesman Cmdr. John Percie Alcos said the exercise shows the Philippine Navy “is committed to be a modern naval force capable of securing the state and contributing to regional peace.”
Kamandag is among numerous activities approved by the Philippines and the US Mutual Defense Board for this year.
“It will also include participation from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, the British armed forces, and the Australian Defense Force,” said Alcos of the exercise.
The exercise will open eight days after the start of a similar drill, “Exercise Sama Sama,” off Zambales. This exercise involves Marine forces from the Philippines, the US, Japan, Canada, France, United Kingdom.
The Philippine Marine Corps declined to say how many troops and assets are taking part in the Kamandag exercise. It said these details will be released during the opening ceremony.
In a media advisory, it said a combined arms littoral live fire exercise is scheduled to be held off Burgos town in Ilocos Norte from October 16 to 24 as part of the Kamandag exercise.
The town is about 200 nautical miles from Taiwan, which China wants to annex to its territory.
A humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capability demonstration is also scheduled during the same period in the town.
Several other exercises are scheduled as part of the Kamandag exercise, including an amphibious assault and counter landing training activities in Aborlan town in Palawan and amphibious raid in Rizal town, also Palawan.
These three activities in Palawan are scheduled to be held from October 17 to 23.
Senate President pro tempore Jinggoy Estrada urged the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine Navy to increase their presence in the West Philippine Sea.
“We must hold the CCG (China Coast Guard) accountable for all its unprovoked attacks. The safety of our government personnel and the sovereignty of our country are non-negotiable,” he said.
“I also urge our PCG and the Philippine Navy to increase the frequency of patrols in the West Philippine Sea to ensure the safety of our people and the security of our waters,” he added.
Estrada asked authorities not to let the latest incident, describing it as a “blatant violation of our sovereign rights and rules-based international order, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas. — With Raymond Africa
