No Chinese ships monitored during PH-US Navy maritime cooperative activity in West Philippine Sea

Transcript

00:00The maritime cooperation between the Philippines and America continues to develop with the latest joint sail between the two navies

00:06and the waters of the country's exclusive economic zone.

00:10This latest successful venture on the high seas has drawn the ire and jealousy of communist China,

00:16which sees such activities as a threat to its illegal presence in the West Philippine Sea.

00:21Our Patrick de Jesus tells us more.

00:24The ships of the Philippine Navy and U.S. Navy, BRP Ramon Alcaraz, and USS Mobile

00:33sailed together on Wednesday in the West Philippine Sea.

00:37This activity is part of the maritime cooperative activity between the two countries,

00:43conducted within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone of Palawan.

00:48The exercises include a communications check, division tactics, and a cross-deck exercise.

00:55The MCA aims to strengthen the interoperability and cooperative capability of the Philippine

01:02and U.S. navies, following the recent 2-plus-2 ministerial dialogue between the Philippines

01:09and the U.S. According to the AFP, no Chinese vessel was monitored during the joint sail.

01:16Meanwhile, China has objected to the U.S. providing US$500 million in military financing

01:22to the Philippines, which will primarily be used for the modernization of the AFP and PCG.

01:29According to a spokesperson from the Chinese foreign ministry, this alliance will cause

01:35destabilization and increase tensions in the region. They also stated that seeking security

01:42assurance from external forces will result in greater insecurity. A maritime law expert

01:49emphasized that China should not interfere in the Philippines' alliance with the U.S.

02:12A political expert also responded to progressive groups criticizing the U.S. military grant

02:33to the Philippines.

03:03Apart from the military grant, there is also an additional US$128 million investment

03:20for EDCA sites. Patrick de Azuz, from the National TV, for a new and better Philippines.