A Chinese Navy warship shadowed the Ajex Dagit-Pa joint exercise of Philippine military forces in Kota Island, a part of the Kalayaan Group of Islands in the West Philippines.
According to Chino Gaston’s report in 24 Oras on Wednesday, this prompted the Philippine Navy offshore patrol vessel BRP Alcaraz to transmit a radio message to the Chinese ship, identified as a corvette.
“Chinese warship 629, Chinese warship 629, this is a Philippine Navy warship. You are entering our exercise area. Please leave our vicinity,” the transmission said.
The Chinese warship did not respond.
“Mukhang nagmamasid lang sila. Nanunuod sila. So wala naman interruption ‘yung ating exercise,” said Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. who was onboard the Alcaraz to observe the proceedings.
(They appear to be observing and watching us. So there was no interruption to our exercise.)
The participants of the joint exercise were the Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force and the Philippine Coast Guard whose forces simulated a response to a scenario where a foreign force attacked a Philippine island.
The exercise featured two of the latest Fast Attack Interdiction Craft (FAIC) from Israel, locally known as the Acero class gunboats, an Agusta Westland helicopter and the Alcaraz.
From the Alcaraz, a team composed of Navy SEALs and PCG personnel deployed on rubber boats to Kota Island.
The AFP maintained the exercise was not aimed at provoking any country.
“We are warning our neighbors or kahit sinumang external forces diyan that we are capable of defending our islands,” said Brawner.
(We are warning our neighbors or any external forces out there that we are capable of defending our islands.)
“This is a test of our interoperability dito sa Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the integration of all the capabilities of the Army, the Air Force, and the Navy. It is very crucial to enhance our capability right here in the West Philippine Sea,” said AFP Western Command chief Vice Admiral Alfonso Torres.
Meanwhile, the aircraft hangar and control tower in nearby Pag-asa Island are almost finished as part of the AFP’s modernization program.
Meanwhile, the extension of the sea wall and the repair of the boat shelter and harbor used by the Navy, Coast Guard, and Filipino fisherfolks is still ongoing. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/RF, GMA Integrated News
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