Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Hamas: We hold occupation fully responsible for activists' safety, and call on UN and international organizations to condemn this crime.
Hamas: We salute the free people of multiple nationalities who stood headstrong against threats, confirming that Gaza does not stand alone.
Hamas: Interception of Madleen mid-sea is organized state terrorism, a flagrant violation of international law, and an assault on civilian volunteers.
Reuters: Injuries reported in explosion at Kadena Air Base in Japan
Israeli media: The Israeli army took control of the Madleen ship and arrested the activists.
Freedom Flotilla Coalition: IOF have boarded the Madleen ship and communication with the ship was lost.
Israeli media: The Israeli occupation forces have begun storming the Madleen.
Reuters: The Freedom Flotilla Coalition sounds the alarm on the Madleen ship heading to Gaza in anticipation of being intercepted by the Israeli occupation.
Israeli media: Finance Minister Smotrich announces the opening and commencement of construction of a new settlement in Jabal Abu Rubin, near Beitunia in the West Bank.
Local Syrian sources to Al Mayadeen: Clashes between local fighters and Israeli occupation soldiers around the Maariyah barracks in the far western Daraa countryside.

Philippines host navy drills with US to boost 'rules-based intl order'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Sep 2023 16:06
4 Min Read

The Philippines' Armed Forces say the joint exercises will also include the Naval forces of the UK, Japan, Australia, and Canada.

  • x
  • Philippines host navy drills with US to boost 'rules-based intl order'Philippine exercise director Major General Marvin Licudin (L) and US exercise director Major General Eric Austin during the opening ceremony of the 'Balikatan' joint military exercise in Manila in Apirl, 2023 (AFP)

The Philippines will host this year's joint naval exercise with the United States from October 2-13 as part of mutual efforts to boost military collaboration in the East Asian region, the Philippines Armed Forces said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The Philippine Navy is set to host this year's iteration of the PH-US Exercise SAMASAMA that is scheduled from 02 to 13 October 2023 at the Naval Forces Southern Luzon (NFSL) Area of Operations. SAMASAMA is a bilateral exercise between the United States Navy (USN) and the Philippine Navy (PN) that aims to further strengthen international defense cooperation and advance a rules-based international order," the army said.

According to the statement, the exercise activities were designed to further enhance the PN’s naval warfare capabilities as the country’s offshore combat force for maritime security operations. They will cover the fundamentals of anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-air warfare, and electronic warfare.

Read more: China warns Japan, Philippines of self-harm, taking risks on US behalf

Furthermore, the drills aim to improve maritime integration and combined interoperability with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and the United Kingdom Royal Navy.

Meanwhile, the French and Australian navies will send personnel to join the subject-matter expert exchanges SMEEs, while the maritime forces of New Zealand and Indonesia will take part in the exercises as observers. 

Close to the US

Related News

Los Angeles: Demonstrations escalate after National Guard deployment

Explosion at Japan SDF facility inside US Kadena Air Base, 4 injured

The drills will be held in the South China Sea as Washington continues to incite regional tensions with Beijing and form official and non-official military blocs in the heated region.

In April, Manila announced that it would grant the US four more military bases on its soil, which raised the total number of American bases in the country to nine. Two of the military sites are close to Taiwan and one is near the South China Sea. China's neighbor said this move comes as part of its efforts to offset alleged Chinese "increasing assertiveness toward Taiwan" and its construction of bases in the South China Sea.

During the same month, the US and the Philippines conducted the largest-ever joint exercises. The drills saw a live-shooting event in the ocean for the first time in the history of their relations.

Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the military drills then, stressing that they must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and security interests.

Read more: US bullying guised as responsible competition leads to conflict: China

Renewed tensions

A 300-meter floating barrier placed by China earlier across the entrance of the disputed Scarborough Shoal reef chain was removed by the Philippines in a covert naval operation, which was ordered by the country's President, Ferdinand Marcos.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin criticized the Philippines' actions, saying Beijing "firmly upholds the sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the Huangyan island," referring to the disputed Scarborough Shoal reef chain.

"We advise the Philippines not to provoke or stir up trouble," the official added.

In a report discussing the incident, the Global Times said the renewed frictions between the two countries are "obviously driven by US instigation." 

The Chinese newspaper pointed out that the US is seeking a larger military presence in the South China Sea, indicating that it is pushing the Philippines to spur up feuds with China, providing a pretext for US military expansion in the region.

  • United States
  • Joint naval exercises
  • South China Sea
  • China
  • Philippines

Most Read

The logo of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (wikidata)

Iran acquired thousands of sensitive Israeli documents: Exclusive

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025
A Palestinian woman mourns as she embraces the body of her daughter Mayar Abu Odeh, 8, who was killed in an Israeli army strike on Gaza. at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (AP)

French port workers block arms shipment to 'Israel' amid Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

New Syrian group claims Golan strike, vows resistance to 'Israel'

  • Politics
  • 4 Jun 2025
Iranian demonstrators walk on a caricature of the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, March 28, 2025 (AP)

Iran hits 'Israel' hard without arms; intel breach lays Tel Aviv bare

  • Politics
  • 7 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Climate activist Greta Thunberg, center, waits to board the Madleen boat, before setting sail for Gaza along with activists of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departing from the Sicilian port of Catania, Italy, Sunday, June 1, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gaza aid vessel vows to continue until final moment

A view of the Knesset through the entrance window. (Agencies)
Politics

Haredi parties push for Knesset dissolution, call PM 'a burden'

Palestinians carry the body of Ahmed Abu Hilal, who was killed while on his way to an aid hub in Gaza, during his funeral in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US 'aid centers' in Gaza are deadly traps: Palestinian Resistance

An aerial view shows sections of the columns in the ancient city of Palmyra, Syria, Saturday, January 25, 2025 (AP)
Arts and Culture

Syria’s ancient sites looted as artifacts flood online markets

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS