MANILA, Philippines – During the opening ceremony at the port of Manila where the USCGC vessel Stratton (WMSL-752) and Japan’s Akitsushima (PLH-32) arrived Thursday, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Capt. Brian Krautler, Stratton’s commanding officer, told reporters the United States and USCG are committed to their allies and partners in this region to reinforce and model international rules that aim to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The US stands ready to operate alongside our partners […] I think the more countries we have that are committed to the same ideal of free and open Indo-Pacific and the ability to enforce your own nation’s laws and sovereignty the stronger we can be as a team,”
U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Brian Krautler
In the next few days, Krautler said their ship and crews will conduct collaborative mission planning and joint search and rescue operations with multiple sea and air assets.
About 80-100 US crews, 200 personnel from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and between 60 to 70 from the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) will participate in the exercises.
The holding of the drills came more than a month after two China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels intercepted Philippine patrol boats and “exhibited aggressive tactics” near Second Thomas Shoal, locally known as Ayungin Shoal.
At one point, CCG 5201 came within 50 yards (46 meters) of a Philippine ship, it said. Another China Coast Guard ship “persistently followed BRP Malabrigo” at a distance of 700 yards (640 meters).
Beijing has said the Philippine vessels trespassed into waters near Ren’ai Reef, the Chinese name for Ayungin Shoal, and had dangerously approached a Chinese vessel.
However, PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Armand Balilo said their maritime drills had nothing to do with the issues in the disputed waters.
“Our job demands that we enhance our capabilities in search and rescue and maritime law enforcement. This has nothing to do with the issue in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
“Strategies of participating crews on maritime law enforcement and search and rescue will be tested during the exercises,” he added.
China has competing claims in the South China Sea with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam.
In 2016, an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines and against the sweeping “nine-dash line” by which Beijing asserts its maritime claims in the strategic waterway, but China has refused to acknowledge the ruling.
