The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted an anti-submarine exercise that stretched for more than 40 hours and featured more than a dozen groups of anti-submarine patrol aircraft in the South China Sea, which is a region experts said is infested with foreign submarine activities that potentially threaten China’s national defense. Anti-submarine patrol […]
Philippine Soldiers raise their flag on the northernmost island of the country The US military is considering building a Taiwan-facing port in the northernmost islands of the Philippines, according to a report by Reuters, citing government and armed forces officials. The new facility would reportedly allow Washington easy strategic access to the self-ruled island, […]
Two China Coast Guard cutters head off the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Cabra (PCG) On Tuesday, the Philippine Coast Guard successfully shepherded two supply boats past opposing Chinese vessels in order to deliver much-needed goods to the garrison at Second Thomas Shoal. The mission was an important success for the PCG and for the Philippine […]
Republic of Philippine Navy Assumes Command of Multinational Counter-Piracy Task Force The Republic of Philippine Navy assumed command of a multinational counter-piracy task force during a change-of-command ceremony Aug. 21 at the U.S. Navy base here. Republic of Korea Navy Rear Admiral Ko Seung-bum turned over command of Combined Task Force (CTF) 151 to Republic […]
Philippine Marine Corps Lt Col Gallaza and Commander Indo-Pacific Endeavour Air Cdre McCormack speak to media on board HMAS Canberra. Australian Defence Force Photo HMAS Canberra (L02) launched several MV-22B Ospreys in an air assault exercise off Palawan this week, commencing the first phase of the first-ever bilateral amphibious drill between the Philippines and Australia. […]
New Delhi: INS Vagir, an Indian Navy submarine, which is on an extended-range deployment since June will reach Fremantle, a port city in Australia on August 20, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement. The submarine, which is the Indian Navy’s fifth Kalvari class submarine, based in Mumbai, was commissioned into the Indian […]
China appears to be constructing an airstrip on a disputed South China Sea island that is also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, according to satellite photos analysed by The Associated Press. The work on Triton Island in the Paracel group mirrors construction on seven human-made islands in the Spratly group to the east which have […]
The WWII landing ship tank (LST) BRP Sierra Madre grounded on Second Thomas Shoal to defend Philippine claims. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard This week, the Chinese government claimed that the Philippines promised to remove a small outpost from Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed low-tide feature in the Philippine exclusive economic zone. The Philippine government denied […]
With the growing debate about the future constitution of the Navy’s surface fleet and speculation about major modernisation programs like the Hunter Class frigates gather pace, is it time to look at establishing a dedicated “militarised” Coast Guard to ease the burden on Navy and deliver better maritime security outcomes? As the largest island […]
US 7th Fleet Washington: The US State Department on Sunday condemned China’s aggression against the Philippines in the South China Sea where it blocked Filipino manoeuvres with water cannons. “The United States reaffirms an armed attack on Philippine public vessels, aircraft, and armed forces— including those of its Coast Guard in the South China Sea—would […]
