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Balikatan to kick off Monday amid latest PHL-China territorial tiff
More than 4,000 American troops will join their Filipino counterparts Monday for a series of military exercises that Malacañang hopes will not provoke China following its latest territorial tiff with the Philippines.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Sunday said the joint RP-US Balikatan military exercises are not meant to be a show of force against China as it had been scheduled several months before the latest Philippine-China standoff at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
Wala itong kinalaman sa naging insidente sa Panatag. The exercises are always scheduled noon pa, Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.
She said the Palace is hoping the Balikatan exercises will not provoke China. Umaasa tayo this will not result in provocation. As we have said the exercises had long been scheduled and wala siyang kinalaman sa insidente.
Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, Balikatan public affairs officer, said the exercises are not in any way related to the standoff between Philippine and China.
The Balikatan exercises [are] in no way related to any event like the Scarborough Shoal [standoff]," he said Sunday. "This was planned long before for the security of our country maritime security, counter-terrorism and humanitarian and disaster response.
Balikatan
The Balikatan is the biggest combined military exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Pacific Command. It aims to promote regional peace and security and improve the interoperability and contingency planning of both forces for defense in accordance with the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Some 6,800 troops 4,500 American and 2,300 Filipinos are expected to participate in this annual exercise, which includes computer-simulated command post exercises, multiple field training exercises and humanitarian civic assistance projects in pre-selected areas in Palawan, the Philippine Information Agency said.
However, the Philippines remains in a standoff with China off Panatag Shoal, about 124 nautical miles off Zambales, after the Philippine military spotted Chinese fishing vessels poaching in the area.
But before the Philippine Navy could make arrests, two Chinese maritime vessels blocked its path.
Following talks between Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing, the eight Chinese fishing vessels left the area Friday night. The standoff has not ended after China sent back one of its ships to the area.
The venue of the actual training exercises includes the West Philippine Sea (also South China Sea) off Palawan where both forces will be pursuing amphibious exercises; and gas and oil platform defense and retake.
The West Philippine Sea is the site of the Spratly Island, a chain of islands and islets believed to rich in oil and minerals deposits. The island is being claimed in part or in whole by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.
Palace downplays lack of ambassador to China
Valte also downplayed the Philippines lack of an ambassador to China, as nominee Domingo Lee a family friend of President Benigno Aquino III has yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.
She said del Rosario has been personally heading the diplomatic efforts to address the situation at Panatag Shoal.
Meron pang mga issues si Mr. Lee has to answer before the CA. But be that as it may, Secretary del Rosario has been heading the diplomatic efforts to address the incident at Panatag Shoal, she said.
Poachers
Valte kept mum on whether the Philippines will pursue the Chinese fishermen who got away with marine life they took from the area.
While she said the Philippines position has always been to maintain its claim over the Panatag Shoal, it must resort to diplomatic resolution and avail of the diplomatic process to settle incidents like this.
Secretary del Rosario said this remains to be unresolved issue. Well defer to the DFA. I hope you understand given the sensitive nature of the incident, she added. KBK, GMA News
Balikatan to kick off Monday amid latest PHL-China territorial tiff | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere
More than 4,000 American troops will join their Filipino counterparts Monday for a series of military exercises that Malacañang hopes will not provoke China following its latest territorial tiff with the Philippines.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Sunday said the joint RP-US Balikatan military exercises are not meant to be a show of force against China as it had been scheduled several months before the latest Philippine-China standoff at Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.
Wala itong kinalaman sa naging insidente sa Panatag. The exercises are always scheduled noon pa, Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.
She said the Palace is hoping the Balikatan exercises will not provoke China. Umaasa tayo this will not result in provocation. As we have said the exercises had long been scheduled and wala siyang kinalaman sa insidente.
Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, Balikatan public affairs officer, said the exercises are not in any way related to the standoff between Philippine and China.
The Balikatan exercises [are] in no way related to any event like the Scarborough Shoal [standoff]," he said Sunday. "This was planned long before for the security of our country maritime security, counter-terrorism and humanitarian and disaster response.
Balikatan
The Balikatan is the biggest combined military exercise between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the United States Pacific Command. It aims to promote regional peace and security and improve the interoperability and contingency planning of both forces for defense in accordance with the Mutual Defense Treaty.
Some 6,800 troops 4,500 American and 2,300 Filipinos are expected to participate in this annual exercise, which includes computer-simulated command post exercises, multiple field training exercises and humanitarian civic assistance projects in pre-selected areas in Palawan, the Philippine Information Agency said.
However, the Philippines remains in a standoff with China off Panatag Shoal, about 124 nautical miles off Zambales, after the Philippine military spotted Chinese fishing vessels poaching in the area.
But before the Philippine Navy could make arrests, two Chinese maritime vessels blocked its path.
Following talks between Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Chinese Ambassador Ma Keqing, the eight Chinese fishing vessels left the area Friday night. The standoff has not ended after China sent back one of its ships to the area.
The venue of the actual training exercises includes the West Philippine Sea (also South China Sea) off Palawan where both forces will be pursuing amphibious exercises; and gas and oil platform defense and retake.
The West Philippine Sea is the site of the Spratly Island, a chain of islands and islets believed to rich in oil and minerals deposits. The island is being claimed in part or in whole by the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.
Palace downplays lack of ambassador to China
Valte also downplayed the Philippines lack of an ambassador to China, as nominee Domingo Lee a family friend of President Benigno Aquino III has yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.
She said del Rosario has been personally heading the diplomatic efforts to address the situation at Panatag Shoal.
Meron pang mga issues si Mr. Lee has to answer before the CA. But be that as it may, Secretary del Rosario has been heading the diplomatic efforts to address the incident at Panatag Shoal, she said.
Poachers
Valte kept mum on whether the Philippines will pursue the Chinese fishermen who got away with marine life they took from the area.
While she said the Philippines position has always been to maintain its claim over the Panatag Shoal, it must resort to diplomatic resolution and avail of the diplomatic process to settle incidents like this.
Secretary del Rosario said this remains to be unresolved issue. Well defer to the DFA. I hope you understand given the sensitive nature of the incident, she added. KBK, GMA News
Balikatan to kick off Monday amid latest PHL-China territorial tiff | GMA News Online | The Go-To Site for Filipinos Everywhere
