The Philippines will engage China in a naval exercise between Asean member states, the first-ever military drill between the two countries locked in dispute over the West Philippine Sea.
The upcoming military exercises slated on Oct. 22 to 29 will be held off the waters in Zhanjiang, China, outside of the disputed areas in the Spratlys, Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said on Monday.
Andolong said that the upcoming naval exercise surfaced following China’s proposal which was submitted during the Asean defense ministers meeting that was eventually concurred by the body.
“The proposal for a joint ASEAN and Chinese [naval] exercise was submitted in February of this year during the ADMM [in] Singapore or at the Asean Defense Ministers Meeting. It was proposed to the body and approved, so hence, it was scheduled,” he added.
“I think this would be the first (exercise), we never had an exercise with them of this kind. We have sent students in China for the General Staff Course (GSC), but to my memory, parang wala tayong ginawang martime or military exercise with China,” Andolong said.
China, along with Indonesia and Malaysia has proposed to the Philippines for joint maritime patrol in the Sea Sulu, but the exercise did not push through.
China and the Philippines are locked in territorial disputes over the South China Sea which China wholly claims, including areas that are inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which sparked diplomatic spats between the two countries.
China and Philippines’ relations have considerably improved following the shift of an independent foreign policy by President Rodrigo Duterte that extends friendship to all nations.
Andolong, however, is still clueless as to what type of vessel the Philippine navy would be sending to the exercise, except for the attendance of Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad.
But Empedrad hinted that they would be sending a cargo ship.
Andolong said the focus of the military exercise would center on humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and anti-piracy activities.
READ: Philippines skips war drill on China concerns