The Philippines, France and the US conducted a multilateral maritime exercise off the coast of the Philippine province of Palawan on Thursday, Philippine media reported.
The exercise was part of the annual three-week joint Philippine-US joint combat exercise from 22 April to 10 May, involving more than 17,000 Philippine and US troops. France and Australia are participating in some of the exercises.
Captain Ariel Coloma, spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command, said that BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Davao del Sur left Puerto Princesa, Palawan, at about 9:00 a.m., marking the start of the drills.
French frigate Vendémiaire and the USS Harpers Ferry shortly followed the Navy warships, according to Coloma.
The Philippine, French and US navies will take part in “series of dynamic exercises aimed at strengthening maritime capabilities” over the next five days, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement.
The exercises come amid an escalating diplomatic standoff and maritime clashes between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea. The two countries are among a group of nations locked in a territorial dispute in this waterway, through which more than $3 trillion of shipping trade passes annually.
