Humanitarian mission in PHL no threat to China, USNS Mercy commander says 

SUBIC BAY - The commander of a team of stakeholders on the hospital ship USNS Mercy on Thursday said their humanitarian mission in the Philippines is not meant to threaten China.

 

In a chance interview with reporters during the USNS Mercy media tour, Pacific Partnership 2015 mission commander US Navy Capt. Christopher Engdahl said their mission is non-combatant.

 

"This is a humanitarian mission, this is a non-combatant mission," he said. "I think, thankfully to the media, in all the countries we visited, this mission is pretty clear, we are not a threat to anyone and we are not designed to threaten anyone."

 

Asked if they were challenged by Chinese forces when they passed through the South China Sea, he said: "No, there has been no interaction with them, no radio communication."

 

Earlier in March, the Chinese Navy issued eight warnings to the crew of a US surveillance aircraft when it conducted overflights in the South China Sea, according to CNN, which was aboard the US aircraft.

 

When the American pilots responded by saying the plane was flying through international airspace, a Chinese radio operator said with exasperation: "This is the Chinese navy ... You go!"

 

'No force protection'

 

He added that their ship did not bring any force protection.

 

"I am invited by the host nation and in this case, the Army of the Philippines is providing all my security, all of my force protection, and that has been the case in every country," he said. "It is truly a peaceful mission unlike in any I have experienced before."

 

"We think, to solve the disaster problems that the Pacific might present, and it has to happen regionally, and we are a ship mission that is welcoming everyone," he added.

 

The crew aboard USNS Mercy ship is set to stay in Subic and nearby provinces from August 4 to 14 to conduct humanitarian work, particularly medical and dental services. The US hospital ship arrived in the Philippines via Roxas City on July 18. 

 

The ship is composed of 900 to 1000 personnel, including soldiers, sailors, Marines, doctors, and members of non-government organizations. — JDS, GMA News