PH, US troops prepare for defense treaty activation

From the Philippine Star (Apr 16, 2021):  PH, US troops prepare for defense treaty activation (By Victor Reyes)

FILIPINO and American forces participating in the annual “Balikatan” exercise are being trained on how to act in case the Mutual Defense Treaty between US and Philippines is triggered.

This year’s exercise is being conducted amid the massing of Chinese maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

Under the 1951 MDT, the two countries recognize that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either side “would be dangerous to its own peace and safety,” thus they would act to meet common dangers in accordance with constitutional processes.

An attack “is deemed to include an armed attack on the metropolitan territory of either of the parties, or on the Island territories under its jurisdiction in the Pacific Ocean, its armed forces, public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific.”

“The intent of every iteration of Balikatan is for both armed forces to train together on defense and security leveraging on the capability, experience, and strength of their friendship,” said Maj. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, Balikatan director on the Philippine side.

He also said the two-week exercise which opened last Monday will focus on tabletop or simulation exercises which include subject matter exchanges dealing on air interdiction, maritime interdiction, and even pandemic response operations.

“Balikatan is done annually to ensure interoperability in terms of command, control, computers , communications, intelligence, surveillance reconnaissance (C4ISR) and subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs),” said Arevalo.

Arevalo said the only field training or kinetic exercise that will be conducted under this year’s Balikatan, which had been toned down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will be done at the Col. Ernesto Ravina Air Base (CERAB) in Pampanga on Tuesday next week.

“The exact term of the activity at CERAB is simulated close air support and live fire exercise,” said Arevalo.

The exercise comes continued massing of Chinese maritime militia vessels in Philippine waters.

The presence of Chinese militia vessels in Philippine waters was first reported on March 7 by the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea. It said some 220 Chinese vessels were sighted at the Julian Felipe Reef in Palawan.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana demanded the withdrawal of these vessels, expressing fears this is preparatory to the occupation of the reef.

Most of these vessels later dispersed to other areas in the West Philippine Sea, the Philippine-claimed area of the South China Sea which China claims wholly.

On April 13, the task force said there were 240 Chinese maritime militia vessels in various areas in the WPS but nine of them remaining at Julian Felipe, based on an April 11 maritime patrol conducted by the Armed Forces.

On Wednesday night, AFP Western Command chief Vice Adm. Ramil Enriquez said only six Chinese vessels are at the Julian Felipe Reef based on a report shared by the Philippine Coast Guard on the afternoon of April 11.

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