August 30, 2024 | NEWS DIGEST

 

By API Desk | Date 08-30-2024

 

Philippines holds three-day naval drill in Subic 

The Philippines held a three-day naval drills within its territorial waters to test the interoperability and readiness of its two guided-missile frigates, a naval commander said.

Navy’s Offshore Combat Force acting commander Captain Joselito de Guzman said the navy’s brand new frigates, BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna, held two-phased drills for the first time at a naval operating base in Subic. 

The frigates were joined by air assets like the AW159 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter and maritime surveillance Beechcraft TC-90. 

“This unilateral exercise will test and validate existing warfare doctrines, test new capabilities in multi-dimensional warfare for us to develop common TTPs to address existing gaps, and enhance the interoperability and battle readiness of OCF vessels, specifically the Jose Rizal Class Frigates and Del Pilar Class Patrol Vessels,” De Guzman added.

The at-sea exercise also tested integration between JRCFs and Naval Air Wing’s AW159 for Anti-Submarine Warfare, along with conducting systems checks after its (FF151) Drydocking Repairs in Ulsan, South Korea last July 2024. 

 

Chinese vessels swarm on two Philippine Coast Guard ships in Sabina Shoal

About 40 Chinese vessels swarmed and blocked two Philippine Coast Guard ships sent to deliver essential supplies to another vessel in Sabina Shoal, a maritime law enforcement agency spokesman said. 

Commodore Jay Tarriela said two of their vessels – BRP Cabra and BRP Cape Engaño – had failed to complete their “humanitarian mission” after a  flotilla of Chinese ships — six Coast Guard vessels, three navy ships and 31 maritime militia vessels — blocked and harassed the Philippine boats. 

“We urge the China Coast Guard to abide by the international law and stop deploying maritime forces that could undermine mutual respect, a universally recognized foundation for responsible and friendly relations among coast guards,” Tarriela said in a press statement. 

Tarriella added the Chinese actions resulted in the failure of the two 44-meter Multi-Role Response vessels to deliver supplies, including a special ice cream treat from the Commandant in honor of National Heroes’ Day. 

 

Increasing Chinese presence in the West Philippine Sea

The Philippines has sounded an alarm after observing a dramatic increase in the presence of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea as the Coast Guard stepped up its activities in Sabina Shoal.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the navy’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said there were 169 Chinese vessels within the country’s maritime zones, from August 20 to 26, up from 123 ships in the previous week. Of the 169 vessels, 53 of these were monitored Sabina shoal. 

Trinidad said the Navy was concerned over the six harassments done by China this month alone in the West Philippine Sea.

“The Navy is concerned with all these coercive and aggressive actions that raise the risk for a miscalculation,” Trinidad said, noting that has been over the six harassments done by China this month alone in the West Philippine Sea.

 

Brawner joins air patrol in the West Philippine Sea

The Philippines’ top soldier had a fun ride aboard a light fighter that went on patrol in the West Philippine Sea, the first time for an army general to get on a maritime security patrol.

General Romeo Brawner Jr last Friday boarded a two-seater FA-50 fighter aircraft over disputed waters in the West Philippine Sea to test the aircraft’s flares.

Brawner’s experience came about 15 days after two Chinese multi-role fighters dropped flares on a path of a Philippine Air Force NC-212i plane while doing routine patrol over Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc.

Another Chinese fighter also dropped flares on a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Cessna plane two weeks later in the same area.

China also fired flares from a man-made island, Subi Reef, on the same BFAR aircraft while on a maritime patrol.

Brawner said the Air Force light fighters were also equipped with flares but the Philippines obey international laws. “We are not doing it to others,” said Brawner, referring to dropping flares on other aircraft’s path.