Philippines, US kick off maritime exercises

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino and US troops have launched weeklong joint exercises that include amphibious operations in support of counterterrorism.

The Marine Exercise 2022 Philippines (MAREX 22 PH) officially began Thursday in opening ceremonies at Fort Bonifacio.

Commandant Maj. Gen. Ariel Caculitan of the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) led the opening rites as keynote speaker.

Marine Corps Public Affairs Office chief Maj. Emery Torre said MAREX 22 aims to develop Phl-US Marine Forces’ capabilities in amphibious operations, internal security operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR).

The joint exercises will be held mostly in areas under the Western Command in Palawan and the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) until Feb.2.

Torre said all amphibious planning and executions would be in the Wescom area, while all HADR and medical training exercises would be held in the Westmincom area, with the participation of the provincial government of Tawi-Tawi.

“We must continue to conduct relevant trainings that will improve our individual and collective capabilities. MAREX is joined by our foreign counterpart and our major ally, the United States Marine Corps, that has long been training with us and sharing with us the duty to preserve regional peace and security,” Caculitan said.

Col. James Lively, commanding officer of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, said the joint training exercises would greatly benefit both the Philippines and the US.

“Our goal is to successfully integrate our forces during planning and execution to conduct a full-scale expeditionary amphibious operation, side-by-side with our Filipino partners,” Lively said.

“Marine Exercise 2022 Philippines will further strengthen our commitment in the Indo-Pacific region as well as be a memorable experience for our Marines and sailors,” he said.

“We appreciate this opportunity to strengthen our enduring alliance with the Philippines in the Indo-Pacific region through combined amphibious operations,” said Capt. Karry DeWayne Sanders, chief of the US Navy’s Amphibious Squadron One.

“Our shared focus of regional security, stability and prosperity in the Pacific will continue to enhance our partner nation’s capability as it has for the last seven decades,” he said.

According to the US embassy, US maritime assets involved in the exercise include the ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (USS Essex, USS Portland and USS Pearl Harbor), the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, including its Battalion Landing Team 1/1, Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 165, Marine Attack Squadron 214 and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.

Missile system deal

As this developed, the Department of National Defense (DND) has officially signed an P18.9-billion deal for the purchase of a shore-based anti-ship missile system for the Philippine Navy.

“Equipping our Navy with this vital asset is imperative as the Philippines continues to protect the integrity of its territory and defend its national interests,” defense chief Delfin Lorenzana said.

“As the world’s fastest supersonic cruise missiles, the Brahmos Missiles will provide deterrence against any attempt to undermine our sovereignty and sovereign rights, especially in the West Philippine Sea,” Lorenzana added.

The DND chief led the ceremonial contract signing yesterday with India’s Brahmos Aerospace represented by its director general Atul Dinkar Rane at Camp Aguinaldo.

Also present was Indian Ambassador Shambhu Kumaran.

“The Brahmos supersonic cruise missiles will certainly beef up the firepower of the Philippine Navy, particularly the Philippine Marine Corps coastal defense regiment. Its system will provide counter-attack capabilities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Lorenzana said.

Meanwhile, US embassy chargé d’affaires ad interim Heather Variava said Philippine sovereignty is not negotiable as she highlighted the US commitment to Manila for “steadfast friendship, equal partnership and enduring alliance.”

“The United States quickly and firmly reiterated our support for our oldest ally in Asia and affirmed that an ‘armed attack on Philippine public vessels in the South China Sea would invoke Mutual Defense commitments.’ Philippine sovereignty is not negotiable,” wrote Variava in an opinion article published on the embassy’s website.

“Friends help each other. Partners respect each other. And allies stand by each other,” she added. She cited an incident in November when Chinese coast guards water cannoned Filipino fishing boats in the West Philippine Sea.

State-of-the-art equipment

Variava, who turned over last year four unmanned aerial systems to the Philippine Air Force, said the US will continue to provide the Philippines with state-of-the-art equipment and participate in combined joint exercises to strengthen its defense capabilities.

She also highlighted other assistance that the US has provided to its long-time ally.

“The United States has facilitated the donation of more than 65 million vaccine doses to the Philippines through COVAX, including more than 25 million donated by the American people, enough to fully vaccinate more than one in five Filipinos,” she said.

“We have also donated nearly P2 billion in other COVID-19 assistance,” she added.

Variava said 15 million doses of Pfizer vaccines for children will soon arrive, raising the total to more than 124 million doses of US-branded vaccines in the Philippines.

The diplomat also noted their support to government relief efforts in places recently affected by Typhoon Odette, including the P1-billion assistance to meet urgent needs like food, water and shelter for the survivors.

“We know that true safety from natural disasters requires a long-term commitment, especially related to climate change. In October, the United States pledged P750 million to help Philippine cities adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change,” she said.

“In November, the Philippines set an ambitious goal of reducing carbon emissions by 75 percent before 2030. Over the next year, we will work together toward this goal by increasing access to green finance, planning new clean energy deployment, and bringing US private-sector solutions to support climate-resilient economic development,” she added.

While there is no guarantee that 2022 would be easy, Variava expressed confidence that the two countries would be able to work together to face possible challenges in the coming months.

“As the world battles another wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us have concerns about the coming year. However, as I reflect on our historic bonds and survey the possibilities before us, I am hopeful for our shared future,” she said.

“I know that our commitment to steadfast friendship, equal partnership and enduring alliance will give us a safer, stronger and more secure future,” Variava added.