MANILA: The Philippine Navy mentioned on Friday (Jan 17) that its ships have been finishing up drills close to a disputed shoal within the South China Sea, a day after Manila and Beijing agreed to hunt frequent floor and discover methods to cooperate regardless of the continuing disputes.
The train across the Scarborough Shoal, one in all Asia’s most contested areas, was aimed toward strengthening the navy’s means to guard what it mentioned have been Philippine waters and the nation’s territorial integrity, the navy mentioned in a Note.
It described it as a “routine unilateral train” involving its frigate Antonio Luna and two different patrol vessels working within the Philippines’ unique financial zone. The workouts will happen from 17 to 19 January.
The drills coincided with ongoing radio challenges by the Philippine Coast Guard to the presence on the shoal of China’s largest coast guard vessel, which it says is illegally patrolling Manila’s EEZ.
“If China is sincerely dedicated to decreasing tensions and sincerely seeks to advertise mutual belief and cooperation amongst our nations…the Chinese authorities should respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines in our EEZ,” the Coast Guard mentioned in an announcement Thursday night.
