PH did not decline Japan-US-Australia joint drill in SCS, says AFP chief

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. on Monday denied a report that the Philippines had declined to participate in the trilateral naval drill of Japan, the United States, and Australia in the South China Sea.

"'Yung nabasa po natin sa Kyodo News ngayon ay vine-verify pa rin natin sa ating counterpart sa Japan, US, at Australia. Kung meron man po silang activities na ganun ay hindi po tayo informed," Brawner said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(We are still verifying with our counterparts in Japan, US, and Australia the report of Kyodo News. If they indeed have such activities, the Philippines is not informed.)

“Hindi po totoo 'yun na nag-decline tayo. Actually, ang ibig po nilang sabihin is that hindi tayo sumama o nag-commit ng barko,” he added.

(It is not true that we declined to join. Actually, what they meant was we did not participate or commit a vessel for the exercise.)

Citing multiple unnamed officials, Kyodo news agency reported on Friday that Japan, US and Australia will hold joint naval drills in the South China Sea on Wednesday.

The report said the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force would send its "largest destroyer” called the Izumo. The Royal Australian Navy and the US Navy, meanwhile, were expected to deploy their amphibious assault ships Canberra and America, respectively.

According to the report, the Philippine forces "canceled" their participation in the joint drill since the three other nations' aircraft “are too large to land on the decks of Philippine warships."

Brawner said the Philippines indeed has plans to conduct joint exercises with other countries like the US and Australia.

Japan, Australia, and the US were among the countries that recognized the 2016 arbitration ruling on a 2013 case filed by the Philippines. The ruling invalidated China's nine-dash line claim over the entire South China Sea.

China, however, rejected the Philippines' call to comply with the ruling, calling the decision "illegal and invalid.”  —KBK, GMA Integrated News