ZAMBALES, Philippines – United States and Philippine military forces on Wednesday fired a volley of missiles and bombs to sink an old Philippine Navy warship representing an enemy vessel in the disputed South China Sea, the highlight of the largest war games yet between the two nations.
This is the first time Manila and Washington have simulated a sea attack and carried out a rocket bombardment exercise in the waterway, where the Philippines and China have competing claims.
The decommissioned BRP Pangasinan sank some 20km off the coast of Zambales at 2.55pm.
“Ex-BRP Pangasinan completed its final journey. Credit goes to the United States’ F-35 using a laser-guided bomb unit,” Colonel Michael Logico, spokesman for Exercise Balikatan, told The Straits Times.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, flanked by US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and Manila defence chief Carlito Galvez Jr, watched most of the nearly six-hour-long drills from an observation tower near the shore.
But Mr Marcos left for another engagement before the troops could sink the ship.
It is rare for Philippine presidents to grace the annual Balikatan war games, now in their 38th year. The live-fire drills also came five days before Mr Marcos is set to fly to the US on Monday for a bilateral meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House.Mr Marcos’ presence sends a strong political message to China, said maritime security expert Collin Koh of Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.
“This demonstrates that the Philippines-US military alliance, as well as such bilateral defence activities, has the full backing of the top political and defence leadership,” Dr Koh said.
Mr Marcos’ presence at the live-fire exercise also further highlights the President’s departure from predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s China-friendly foreign policy.
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