Amid territorial dispute with China, Philippines turns into showcase site of US warships

From InterAksyon (Jun 6): Amid territorial dispute with China, Philippines turns into showcase site of US warships

Amid its territorial dispute with China, the Philippines has turned into a popular site to showcase the warships of the United States. This year alone, the several US destroyers have visited Philippine shores.

On Thursday, the US Embassy in Manila said its Navy submarine tender USS Frank Cable (AS 40) and submarine USS Asheville (SSN 758) will arrive in Subic Bay on June 7 and June 8, respectively.

The USS Frank Cable is its second time to visit the country this year.

The US calls such visits “routine port calls” but they notably come every time China presses its claims over the Spratly Islands.

But the Chinese warships, and maritime and fishing vessels now “guarding” the Ayungin Reef. China has also maintained its “presence” at the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal off Masinloc, Zambales, where Filipino fishermen could not go anymore for fear of harassment or possible arrest or execution for “intrusion.”

Earlier, citing the nuclear threat of North Korea, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the US military may use the country as a military base in case of “extreme emergency.”

In fact, since January this year US warships that already visited the country include USS Freedom (LCS1), USS Tortuga (LSD46), USS Ohio, USS Decatur, USS Emory S. Land (AS39), USS Blue Ridge USS Stockdale (DDG106), USS Cheyenne (SSN773), USS Guardian (MCM5), which met its demise at Tubbataha Reef, among others.

“During their visit, the Frank Cable and Asheville will refuel and receive supplies, and the crew will be given opportunities for community service in nearby areas as well as rest and recreation,” the US embassy said.

The L.Y. Spear-class USS Frank Cable (AS-40) was commissioned in 1980.  It is nearly 200 meters long and has a crew of 1,500. The Frank Cable serves as the US 7th Fleet’s mobile repair and support platform. The ship is named after Frank Taylor Cable, one of the pioneers in the development of submarines for the US Navy. It is homeported in Guam.

Named for the city of Asheville, North Carolina and commissioned in 1991, the USS Asheville is a Los Angeles-class submarine. It is 91 meters long, and has a top speed of 32 knots underwater. The Asheville is homeported in San Diego, California.

Also, US Pacific Command chief Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III arrived in Thursday for a meeting “with his counterparts.”

Locklear will stay in the country for two days.

It must also be noted that defense ministers from the Asia Pacific nations had just met for a security conference in Singapore where it a reported that the US reaffirmed its 62-year-old Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/63453/amid-territorial-dispute-with-china-philippines-turns-into-showcase-site-of-us-warships