Phl-US-Japan separate naval ballets begin in Palawan

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 23): Phl-US-Japan separate naval ballets begin in Palawan

Two separate naval exercises will take place this week among Philippines, United States, and Japan sea defense troops in the Sulu Sea separated by Palawan from the disputed South China Sea to enhance regional cooperation, friendship, and building professional skills.

The naval ballet Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) between the Philippines and United States navies formally opened Monday morning at the Naval Forces West’ (NFW) Naval Station Apolinario Jalandoon, Barangay San Miguel in Puerto Princesa City.

The 21st edition CARAT 2015 will take place in Palawan from June 22-26 “in the waters and air space of the Sulu Sea,” the home of the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (TRNP), where an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship of the U.S. Navy, the USS Guardian, ran aground in January 2013.

Navy Capt. Robert Empedrad, CARAT Philippines exercise director said its objective is “to enhance interoperability on surface, amphibious, and special operations.”

“It is also aims to strengthen information sharing, and more importantly, enhance the already strong bond of friendship, relationship, and goodwill that exist not only between the two naval forces but also between our two countries as a whole,” Empedrad said.

Rear Adm. William Merz, commander, Submarine Group 7, Task Force 54 and Task Force 74 of the U.S. Navy, on the other hand, said the training event between his country and the Philippines is most importantly identified by the sailors and marines, who will work hard together on various operations to ensure an improved partnership.

“The continuing relevance of this exercise of more than two decades represents the high-quality of training we conduct together as we both are drawn to this event every summer,” he said.

The bilateral exercise, he added, assures that the alliance between the Philippines and the U.S. remains strong and vibrant to the “greatest ability of peace in the region, which is a primary focus in the Indo-Pacific Region.

Merz mentioned that the combined efforts between the country and the U.S. almost two years ago during super typhoon Yolanda is a realization that cooperation and partnership is needed, if there will be more significant changes in weather patterns in the future.

The cooperation between the two countries, he stressed, is further supported not only by CARAT, but also by the shoulder-to-shoulder Balikatan and the Amphibious Landing Exercise (PHIBLEX).

The success of all engagements, Merz added, is the quality of all people involved. Americans and Filipinos, in particular, share very strong democratic principles, very long-enduring socio-cultural, economic, social and military relationship that dates back generations.

Navy Rear Adm. Leopoldo Alano, commander of the Philippine Fleet, said too, that personnel from both the U.S. and the Philippine Navy will share best practices on naval procedures and methods through on shore military seminars, conduct together numerous civil action projects, community service events, and joint military band engagements in Puerto Princesa.

"This is a great training opportunity for both nations to gain valuable experience and increase our interoperability,” Alano said at the formal opening ceremony.

USS Forth Worth, 3 Phil Navy vessels hull-to-hull

This year’s CARAT will be the first time where a Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the U.S. Navy, the USS Fort Worth, will be on a two-day hull-to-hull underway phase at-sea readiness exercise with BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP Gregorio del Pilar, and BRP Apolinario Mabini.

Captain H.B Le, deputy commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 (DESRON) said the CARAT is a remarkable venue to strengthen relations with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and enhance at-sea readiness.

“We're looking forward to getting Fort Worth out to sea and operating hull-to-hull with BRP Ramon Alcaraz, BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Apolinario Mabini," he said.

In May this year, the United States received a complaint from the Chinese foreign ministry after the USS Fort Worth did a “freedom of navigation passage” near the territories in the South China Sea it is claiming.

Allegedly, during the LCS’ deployment in the disputed region, it “encountered several warships of the People's Liberation Army Navy, putting the new rules of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea into practice in a "professional" manner.

Phl-Japan exercise is different

Lieutenant Lauryn Dempsey, public affairs officer of Destroyer Squadron 7, clarified that the “concurrent” exercise between the Philippines and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) has nothing to do with CARAT.

“I can confirm that there is an exercise going on between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the JMSDF in Palawan. However, it is separate from CARAT. CARAT is strictly bilateral exercise between the Philippine and the United States navies,” she said, adding the exercises will not overlap.

But a ranking military official who did not want to be named hinted that an interaction among the navies of the three countries is unavoidable since vessels of the Philippine Navy are limited in number and yet needed in both exercises.

Lieutenant Liezl Vidallon, public affairs officer of the Philippine Navy Fleet said over 600 Filipino and American sailors will participate in this year’s CARAT.

For the Philippines, the assets that would participate also include Augusta Westland 109, PN Islander 310, Naval Special Operations Group, and Naval Mobile Construction Battalion.

The USS Fort Worth inaugural participation will be joined in by the rescue and salvage ship USNS (T-ARS-50) and forward-deployed P-3 Orion aircraft.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=775207