PHILIPPINES: Military Exercises Begin
U.S.-Philippines Maritime Military Exercises Begin
The Philippines, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada began a two-week joint military exercise in the waters surrounding the Philippines on Wednesday. The exercise is a move to restrain China, which is stepping up its maritime expansion amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.
More than 1,800 personnel will participate in the drills. According to the Philippine Navy, this year’s joint exercise “Samasama” will be held in southern Luzon. Maritime military exercises will be conducted in areas such as anti-submarine warfare, air defense, and search and rescue.
In launching the exercise, a senior Philippine Navy official said, “Samasama is more than just a military exercise in terms of demonstrating the strength of our allies and partners and our active engagement,” and is “a symbol of our enduring partnership and our shared commitment to security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
Commander Thomas of the U.S. Navy’s Seventh Fleet stressed that “it is important that all nations have the right of navigation and activity” in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea that the Philippines claims as its territory.
REUTERS
October 2, 2023
https://jp.reuters.com/world/us/HSKWAXHYWJOE5LLUIZSZBIR5XM-2023-10-03/
