US and Philippine troops hold joint drills

U.S. and Philippines marine troops held amphibious assault exercises on Friday (October 9) aimed at enhancing interoperability.

 

The drills in Zambales province, 167 kilometers (103 miles) north of Manila, involved landings with amphibious assault vehicles and live fire exercises on a beach and in rural surroundings.

 

A series of exercises in the annual joint navy drills allowed troops from the United States and the Philippines to familiarise themselves with each other's tactics, communication equipment, and assault platforms, a Philippine marine commandant said.

 

"Our personnel were able to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills in the execution of amphibious assault," training director Colonel Nathaniel Casem said, adding that the Philippine navy requires amphibious units to address national security threats.

 

The U.S. and the Philippines signed a 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2014, allowing U.S. forces wider access to Philippine bases and to position ships, aircraft, equipment and troops for maritime security.

 

A major defence challenge for the Philippines is patrolling and securing maritime territories, where tensions with China have simmered.

 

The Philippines has sought help from the United States to monitor "real-time" developments in the South China Sea and provide surveillance and reconnaissance amid China's rapid expansion in the area.

 

The United States is considering sailing warships close to these artificial islands to signal it does not recognize Chinese territorial claims over the area, a U.S. defense official said on Thursday (October 8).

 

The Financial Times newspaper cited a senior U.S. official as saying U.S. ships would sail within 12-nautical-mile zones that China claims as territory around islands it has built in the Spratly chain, within the next two weeks.

 

China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims.  — Reuters