Chinese warships approach PH-US exercise off Zambales
Chinese warships approached and issued a radio challenge to Philippine vessels that were conducting joint exercises with the United States Navy off the Zambales coast.
According to Chino Gaston's Wednesday report on '24 Oras,' the ships that took part in the exercise were the BRP Miguel Malvar, the Philippine Navy's newest frigate purchased from South Korea, the US Navy guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol vessels BRP Cabra and BRP Suluan.
Meanwhile, the People Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Jiangkai class frigate with bow number 551 and Jiangdao Corvette with bow number 646 were observed shadowing the joint exercise.
The Chinese warships were accompanied by a Chinese Coast Guard vessel with bow number 4203.
According to the Philippine Navy, the Chinese warships approached BRP Malvar to a distance of three to four nautical miles, but these later came nearer to the smaller PCG vessels.
The Chinese also conducted a radio challenge but did not repeat it.
''Yung activity natin with the Philippine Coast Guard is very important because every time na mag-operate ang Coast Guard natin, we always support 'yong law enforcement ng Coast Guard,' said Lieutenant Commander Bryan Magura, the operations officer of the Malvar.
(Our activity with the PCG is very important because we always support the Coast Guard every time they conduct their law enforcement activities.)
'So we are here to show that the coordination and interoperability with the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Coast Guard, to include 'yung partner nations natin, is enhanced and improved (to include our partner nations in enhancing and improving our operations),' he added.
The division tactics exercise began at around 1 p.m. where the training focused on various sailing formations.
In all maneuvers, the two PCG ships were in the middle of the formation.
From the Malvar's flight deck, its Agusta Westland helicopter took off to observe from the sky and take photos.
Two PCG vessels participated in the multilateral cooperative activity along with the Philippine and US navies in preparation for future missions where they need to be accompanied by warships.
This is the eighth maritime multilateral cooperative activity (MCA) the Philippines has had with allied countries.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, these military exercises will continue, along with adding more Philippine Navy ships and more allied countries that support the Philippines' defense of its exclusive economic zone — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
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