3-10-2023 (MANILA) In a resounding display of military cooperation, the Philippines and the United States have inaugurated their annual joint naval exercises this Monday. This joint manoeuvre comes on the heels of the most recent diplomatic tiff between Manila and Beijing over the contentious South China Sea.
Dubbed “Samasama,” a Tagalog term meaning “Together,” the exercise has drawn more than a thousand sailors from the allied nations. They have convened for a comprehensive program encompassing anti-submarine warfare, surface warfare, and electronic warfare drills, all taking place off the coast of Manila and to the south of Luzon, the principal island of the Philippines.
The exercise is taking place against a backdrop of increasing concern over China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, a body of water that Beijing lays claim to in its near entirety, despite a 2016 international ruling debunking its legal basis. This situation has been a cause for escalating concern for the United States and its regional allies.
Addressing the sailors during the opening ceremony in Manila, US Pacific Command chief Vice Admiral Karl Thomas highlighted the importance of upholding the rights of all nations to safeguard their national sovereignty, particularly in the face of mounting challenges in international waters. He stated that the “rules-based international order,” which has been the bedrock of regional peace for decades, is currently facing severe challenges. Although he did not explicitly mention China, his statement alluded to the specific nation causing this disruption.
Thomas emphasized the importance of collective action, declaring, “There’s no better way to ensure sovereignty and security than to sail and to operate together.” When questioned at a news conference about the nation to which he was referring, Thomas stressed the significance of maintaining the right to navigate the area without fear of attack or intimidation.
In recent weeks, Beijing has deployed patrol boats, which Manila alleges are harassing Philippine coast guard vessels and local fishermen in the West Philippine Sea. This prompted Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to initiate a special operation where coast guard personnel severed a rope tethering a floating barrier at the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal. Manila contended that this barrier had obstructed Filipino fishermen’s access to a fish-rich ring of reefs that China seized in 2012.
In response, Beijing issued a warning to Manila, cautioning them “not to provoke or stir up trouble” and reiterating its sovereignty and maritime rights over the area, which it refers to as Huangyan Island.
Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Toribio Adaci highlighted the significance of the “Samasama” exercise, noting that it equips them to confront a range of threats collectively.
US Navy officials disclosed that the guided missile destroyer USS Dewey would partake in the exercises over the ensuing 12 days. Joining the exercise will be a dry cargo ammunition ship and the P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft. The Philippine Navy will contribute a guided missile frigate, while a destroyer from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force and the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Vancouver will also participate.
Several other nations, including Britain, Japan, Canada, France, and Australia, are dispatching personnel for tabletop exercises as part of the drills. Meanwhile, New Zealand and Indonesia will be present as observers, underscoring the international importance of the joint exercise in the face of growing challenges in the South China Sea.
