Security boost: A Philippine Air Force FA-50PH jet fighter joins the maritime patrol of the Philippines and the United States over Batanes and areas in the West Philippine Sea. — AP
THE military of the Philippines and the United States launched joint patrols in waters near Taiwan, officials of the South-East Asian nation said.
Security engagements between the treaty allies have soared this year, including a decision to almost double the number of Philippine bases the American military can access, some facing Taiwan, and their largest-ever joint military drill in April.
This week’s three-day joint air and maritime exercise was a “significant initiative” to boost interoperability between the two, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said.
“I am confident this ... will contribute to a more secure and stable environment for our people,” he said on social media platform X on Tuesday.
The drill would start off in Mavulis island, the Philippines’ northernmost point, located about 100km off Taiwan, said Eugene Cabusao, spokesperson for the Northern Luzon command.
It will end in the West Philippine Sea, the name Manila uses for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
The Philippine military said three navy vessels, two FA-50 light combat aircraft and an A-29B Super Tucano light attack plane would participate, while the United States would send a littoral combat ship and a P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft.
The news comes a day after Marcos told a forum in Hawaii that the situation in the South China Sea had become more “dire”, with the Chinese military inching closer to the Philippine coastline.
The patrols are a sign the Philippines is stepping up its defence posture amid what it described as China’s “aggressive activities” in the highly strategic waters, long seen as a potential flashpoint between the United States and China.
“China believes that defence and security cooperation between countries needs to be conducive to regional peace and stability. They should not escalate tensions or undermine trust between countries, still less target any third party,” China’s Washington embassy spokesperson Liu Pengyu said.
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. — Reuters
