Cabinet men tour US warship in disputed sea

ABOARD USS CARL VINSON – Three Philippine officials headed by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana witnessed first hand the operations of an aircraft carrier strike group at sea.

US Ambassador Sung Kim accompanied Lorenzana along with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III aboard this ship, alighting from a US Navy transport plane that fetched them from Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

They were welcomed aboard by Strike Group 1 commander Rear Admiral James Kilby and his staff.

Briefing his visitors, Kilby described the presence of Strike Group 1 as a routine exercise in line with the continuing US Navy training as well as to ensure freedom of navigation in international waters.

When asked if they have encountered some challenges from the Chinese naval forces in the area, Kilby only said the US Navy is just doing its job in accordance with international laws.

Lorenzana defended the presence of USS Vinson in the South China Sea.

He said even before the China asserted its presence in the area, particularly in Panatag Shoal, this has been the training area of joint US-Philippine naval and aerial exercises.

He also described his tour of the carrier “as a very good experience” in witnessing how F18 fighters take off and land on a limited space on the flight deck.

Lorenzana also mused that fighter aircraft on Vinson are far more too many as compared to whole plane inventory of the Philippine Air Force.

Aguirre, for his part, said the presence of the aircraft carrier in the region was a power projection.

Kim, on the other hand, said bringing Filipino officials aboard the aircraft carrier will afford them opportunity to see for themselves carrier operations that he himself described as “truly amazing.”

He also said the US presence in the South China Sea is consistent with international law, adding that everyone in the region understands.

He stressed relations between the Philippines and the US remain strong.

US embassy spokesperson Molly Koscina said it is a tradition on the part of the US government to invite Filipino dignitaries to board any of their visiting ships.

She added AFP chief Gen. Eduardo Año and other top military leaders were also invited but they failed to attend due to some other commitments.

Lingering near Scarborough

 Sailing at a leisurely speed of eight knots, Vinson’s latest position yesterday was 120 nautical miles north of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

Amid the buffeting wind, activities on the flight deck were also busy with F18 fighters as well as surveillance planes taking off and landing alternately.

Aside from several squadrons of F18 fighter jets patrolling the skies, a US Navy helicopter was hovering at a distance.

“We are 120 nautical miles north of Scarborough shoal and also 120 nautical miles from mainland Philippines,” Kilby announced to his Filipino guests.

The Philippine delegation led by Lorenzana was fetched by a Greyhound transport plane that took off from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The flight took over an hour to reach Vinson and made an abrupt “arrest landing,” meaning the aircraft had to be stopped by an arresting wire similar to a slingshot on the deck of the ship.