A ranking Philippine Navy (PN) official said while China is not expected to interfere in the ongoing “Balikatan” exercise, they are prepared to implement contingency measures for such an event.
“Yes, there are appropriate measures in place,” PN spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad said in a media briefing Tuesday afternoon, but he did not elaborate due to security reasons.
Asked why he believes China will not interfere in the three-week drills, Trinidad said it is because the “activity is between the United States and the Philippines.” “Historically, the illegal, unprovoked, uncalled-for actions of China will only be (against the) Philippines,” Trinidad said.
He also declined to comment on whether Balikatan’s “multilateral maritime exercise” will be timed or coordinated with a rotation and reprovisioning for the detachment in Ayungin Shoal. Naval and Coast Guard ships from the Philippines, United States, and France are expected to take part in this event.
“I would like to leave the details to the ground commander, the commander Western Command, and Naval Forces (West), I don’t want to preempt anything,” Trinidad said.
He also said troops manning the Ayungin Shoal detachment still have adequate food and other supplies as they have no urgent request for these.
Also, Trinidad said he expects China to be less aggressive during the course of the “multilateral maritime exercise”.
“Yes, that has been the call ever since for China to respect international law and I expect them to behave actually this time,” he added. (PNA)
