June 26, 2024 | NEWS DIGEST

 

By API Desk | Date 06-26-2024

 

Hyundai shipyard launches Philippine corvette

Ulsan, South Korea – Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) has launched the Philippines’ first of two corvettes in a ceremony at the South Korean shipyard. 

Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr., who witnessed the launching ceremony, said the  28 billion-peso warship will be delivered next year until 2026 and will be it will be fitted with missiles later on.

The Philippines has one corvette, BRP Conrado Yap, the Pohang-class warship donated by Seoul.

Highlighting the proven quality and reliability of South Korean Products, Teodoro in his speech noted that future navy’s acquisitions would adhere to the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, the country’s defense strategy.

Chinese warships transit Philippine waters

Manila — The Philippine Navy challenged four Chinese Navy warships that were sighted within the country’s territorial sea in Palawan, a spokesman said.

Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said at least four People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLA-N), including two destroyers, a frigate, and a supply vessel, were monitored to have transited in Balabac Strait in two groups.

Other vessels, destroyer Luyang III (DDG-168), frigate Jiangkai II (FFG-570), warship Renhai (CG-105) and replenishment oiler Fuchi (AOR-907) were also spotted. 

“As part of standard operating procedure, these vessels were challenged and they responded accordingly,” Trinidad said, adding the warships were within the country’s 12 nautical mile territorial waters.

But Trinidad quickly clarified the Chinese Navy were in an area “commonly used by international vessels passing through our waters.”

Japanese Self-Defense Forces reaffirm support to Philippine military

Manila — The Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) has reaffirmed its support to the Philippine military following China’s latest harassment on its resupply mission in Ayungin Shoal.

JSDFchief General Yoshihide Yoshida, in a video conference with Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., condemned China’s aggression on two Philippine Navy rubber boats near BRP Sierra Madre. 

“We are very thankful for the support that Japan is giving us. Japan was one of the first countries that gave its support to condemning the actions of CCG,” said Brawner.

Meanwhile, Navy vice commander Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia met with visiting US 7th Fleet commander Vice Adm. Fred Kacher at the Navy headquarters in Manila. 

The 7th fleet began its summer patrol in the region a day after a swarm of Chinese Coast Guard rubber boats attacked two Philippine Navy rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) in the West Philippine Sea.

Philippine, US Armies turns over disaster-relief warehouse in Batanes 

Manila — The Philippine and United States Armies completed a humanitarian and disaster relief warehouse in typhoon-prone Batanes province, the northernmost island close to Taiwan.

Troops from the Army’s 513th Engineer Construction Battalion (513ECBn), together with the US Army troops, handed-over to the local government the multi-purpose Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) facility in Itbayat, Batanes.

An average of 20 typhoons visit the Philippines and a number brought death and destruction in northern Luzon, including Batanes. The new warehouse will improve the local government’s disaster response. 

Colonel Louie Dema-ala, the Army spokesman said the construction of the HADR warehouse is integral to disaster preparedness and response strategies.

Chinese pulls out vessels in the South China Sea as it imposes new maritime regulation

Manila — The military has monitored a decline in the number of Chinese vessels in eight areas in the West Philippine Sea as Beijing began to implement domestic law to arrest “trespassers” in its territory.

Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the navy’s spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the Navy has monitored only 121 Chinese vessels – mostly militias, in the South China Sea, down from 146 vessels in the previous week.

China’s new policy against trespassers in the South China Sea took effect last June 15. The policy, which the Philippine Coast Guard considers an “empty threat”, allows the Chinese Coast Guard to detain supposed intruders for up to 60 days.

Philippine authorities have said they have monitored any Filipino fisherman getting arrested by the Chinese since June 15.