PN vows to keep up with US Navy in joint maritime patrol missions

From the Philippine News Agency (Jan 16): PN vows to keep up with US Navy in joint maritime patrol missions

Should the country's call for a joint maritime patrol agreement in disputed portions of the South China Sea be honored by the United States, the Philippine Navy (PN) has the necessary ships and training to keep up with their American counterparts.

"Yes, the Navy does. The joint maritime patrol, if and when finalized, by the two Navies, will in fact be the application and execution of the many opportunities in the past that they were conducting joint maritime and interoperability exercises," PN spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said in a message to the PNA.

"These collaborative activities even before the signing of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (and the SC's upholding of its constitutionality) will surely benefit both countries that are both committed in that part of the sea," he added.

The country's interest for a joint-patrol agreement come out during the Philippine-US 2+2 ministerial meeting held in Washington D.C. last Jan. 12.

"The 2+2 meeting extensively discussed the South China Sea issue, with the US side reiterating the US ironclad commitment to the defense of the Philippines while the Philippines batting for joint patrols. The US also conveyed that it remains committed to the AFP's modernization program," Defense spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez earlier said.

During the meeting, the US emphasized that it would not allow China to control the South China Sea and act to ensure that freedom of navigation was respected.

It also stressed that they would continue to fly and sail whenever and wherever international law allows.

The US also committed to maintain presence in the South China Sea to include naval, sub-sea, air and special forces.

In addition, the US urged the Philippines to stay closely coordinated with respect to the developments in the South China Sea.

Noting China’s claim that it will not militarize the area, the US suggested the need for parties in the South China Sea to have a common and shared understanding of the term "militarization" to avoid growing tensions.

A common sense among the other parties would put pressure on China.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=847283