Philippine to Build Naval Base on Disputed Waters
Philippine military will soon build naval base on the country’s western coastline, opposite the disputed Spratly islands, Reuters reported Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. as saying. "We feel this is the number one priority because of the emerging security situation. As soon as we have the money, we will pour resources there,” he said. He said once they finished the facility at Oyster Bay on the country’s island of Palawan, they will allow the United States, Japan, and Vietnam to make port calls. Philippine’s possible plan of developing the island paradise into a military base could annoy China which already controls the majority in the disputed waters.
Balikatan to Focus on Maritime Security
Officials from the Philippine and United States armed forces participating in this year's Balikatan exercises, the largest in 15 years, insisted that the said activities will not zero in on possible response to the issue of the South China Sea. A statement earlier released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the US is sending 6,656 troops to the country, more than double the approximately 2,500 American servicemen who joined last year’s exercise. During the opening ceremonies at Camp Aguinaldo on Monday, some officials, including Foreign Affairs Usec. Evan Garcia and Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., mentioned maritime defense and concerns in their speeches.
HMAS Tobruk Completes Philippines Visit
Royal Australian Navy ship HMAS Tobruk has departed Manila in the Philippines after a four-day visit. The short break gave the ship’s company an opportunity to continue their association with Filipino colleagues. Tobruk’s Commanding Officer, Commannder Leif Maxfield, said the crew had been looking forward to seeing the changes in the region since the ship deployed as part of Operation PHILIPPINES ASSIST. “Nine months ago Tobruk was diverted to support the multi-national relief effort in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan,” Commander Maxfield said. “We spent a month in the region, assisting with clean up tasks at Ormoc schools and distributed aid supplies to remote island communities in the Visayas archipelago.
