towards Kenneth Christian L. Basilio, Reporting
The Philippines held a joint test drive in the South China Sea with the US and Japan last week, the Philippine military said on Sunday, more than a week since China unveiled its most advanced carrier.
In a statement, the Philippine military named its frigates BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Antonio Luna they were joined by a US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its accompanying fleet for a two-day exercise from November 14 to 15 alongside the Japanese JS Akebono in the contested water hole.
“This includes not only the strong resolve of the Philippines to protect its maritime resources but also its shared commitment to strengthen flexibility, to improve freedom of navigation,” the armed forces said.
Driving the maritime industry and Maritime Awareness Zone was the eighth round of what the Philippines calls “multilateral Maritime Cooperative activities” (MMCA) this year, and the 13th since its inception.
“The ongoing series of MMCA shows its commitment to protect the sovereignty of the nation and improved the joint readiness of the loyal partners,” it said.
This page USS Nimitz The Carrier Strike Group has been in the South China Sea since late October, when the US Pacific Fleet reported that a warplane and a helicopter were hit during “routine operations.”
The wrecks, which happened within 30 minutes of each other, took place in one of the world’s busiest waterways, where tensions between the Philippines and China continue over maritime claims.
The international exercise comes more than a week after China unveiled its third and most advanced long-distance carrier, which analysts say is too confident to rebuke the disputed hole.
316 meters Fujian It is expected to increase the reach of Beijing’s military and strengthen its projection of power in the Pacific, since due to maritime disputes with the Philippines and its allies, competition for applications is cold.
“The Fujian attests to China’s growing naval ambitions to project muscular power and assert its 10-dash line claim,” said Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, referring to Beijing’s sweeping and disputed claim over much of the South China Sea.
China now operates three aircraft carriers, and the first two are modeled on old Soviet-Era designs, because it is working to close the gap with the American region in the region.
Posted in early November, Fujian It can accommodate more than 50 aircraft, ranging from advanced fighter jets and early warning system aircraft. The event was held in a military district in Hainan province overlooking the South China Sea and was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“The New Carriers are part of Beijing’s Power Projection Strateg,” Sherwin E. ONA, security analyst and Associate Professor at DeA SALLE University, said in a Facebook chat.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) -SONTSONYLY -NIXY Skonyela said last week Fujian it is expected to make “constant visibility” at sea. China asserts control over the South China Sea, where disputes with the Philippines and other claims continue despite the United Nations Court’s ruling on its overreach.
Manila has described China’s actions in the basin as forced and rising, while Beijing insists its actions are aimed at protecting its sovereignty.
“Fujian It enables the Pla-Navy to strengthen surveillance, demonstrate air superiority and increase the pressure of the Gray-zone against its regional rivals, “the director of Sealight,” said the Maritime Deplovency Group focused on the South China Sea, said in a Facebook interview.
“Its operational presence will strengthen China to escalate conflicts,” it added, noting Fujian it will allow China to continue to solve the Philippine reactivation.
While it was a “very important step,” Mr. Powell noted that it would be “many years” before China’s aviation policy caught up with that of the United States.
Fujian has a full displacement of over 80,000 metric tons and is equipped with an electromagnetic catapult system such as USS Gerald R. Fordthe US Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier.
“It provides the pla-n with the ability to launch large and heavy aircraft. It also allows for higher air wings compared to the first two carriers,” said Mr. It means.
Nevertheless, the new aircraft carrier will face the verification of intensive tests “as many of its systems and programs are being tested for the first time, said a spokesman for the Chinese military. The ship was “independently designed and built by China,” based on a report sent to the provincial government of Fuji, the carrier names.
“It is still limited if you compare it to the USAvy power of the United States. However, it strengthens its regional projection capabilities, especially in the South and East China Seas, said Mr. Ona.
China could build its next aircraft carrier, building a dry dock across the northeastern province of the entire northeastern country.
Asymmetric Warfare Capabilities
Mr. Cabalza said that the military buildup will be seen as the Philippines entering into more defense agreements with Western and Asian powers.
The Southeast Asian nation has stepped up efforts to push back against China’s maritime preoccupation by expanding its web of alliances beyond the US, its longtime ally. It has created agreements for visiting festivals with Australia, New Zealand, and recently, Canada, as well as a similar agreement with Japan.
The Philippines should focus on strengthening its asymmetric warfare capabilities by investing in unmanned systems such as drones to counter China’s maritime presence in the region, Mr. Powell said.
“The example of Ukraine proves that with flexible, very cheap tactics and technology, small forces can put real costs on a more powerful platform and make large conventional platforms work well,” he said.
“Manila needs a multi-faceted strategy from the coastal and maritime example, the expansion of management and administration programs, increased dialogue with Beijing as both countries will play influential roles in the next year,” said Mr. Cabalza.
Mr. Ona said the Philippine military should also coordinate its joint patrols and exercises with allies in the South China Sea to block the waterway.
