Philippines Signs Framework Peace Agreement with Muslim Rebels

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Philippines Sends More Troops To Guard Disputed Islands

MANILA— The Philippines has deployed 800 more Marines and opened a new headquarters to guard its interests in the disputed Spratly Islands, which China also claims, a senior military official said Sept. 30.
Straddling vital shipping lanes and believed sitting atop vast reserves of mineral deposits, including oil, the Spratlys chain in the South China Sea has long been considered a flashpoint for conflict in the region.
Apart from the Philippines and China, the Spratlys are claimed in whole or in part by Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.


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Philippines and Cambodia in South China Sea row

China has overlapping claims with four Asean members in the South China Sea

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The Philippines has summoned Cambodia's ambassador over comments linked to Manila's territorial row with Beijing.

Hos Sereythonh was asked to explain remarks accusing the Philippines and Vietnam of playing "dirty politics" over the issue of Asean and the South China Sea.
Mr Hos made the comments in a letter to the Philippine Star newspaper.
But he did not turn up on Tuesday, saying that he was sick, said foreign department spokesman Raul Hernandez.
"We will continue to summon him until he is able to come," Mr Hernandez said.
China has overlapping claims with four Asean members in the South China Sea.


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Philippines to boost defence, won't yield to China

MANILA (AP): President Benigno Aquino III has said that the Philippines won't back down from a South China Sea dispute with China and that his country's military would soon get dozens of new aircraft and ships for maritime defence.

Aquino announced during his annual state of the nation address on Monday that more than 40 military aircraft from two newly refurbished C-130 cargo planes to attack helicopters along with other weapons would be delivered in the next two years to bolster Philippine military muscle amid renewed territorial conflicts in the South China Sea.

A second US Coast Guard cutter would arrive soon from longtime ally, the United States. A refurbished Coast Guard cutter from the US was relaunched by the Philippine navy last year as its largest and most modern warship.

Washington has also provided USD 30 million to strengthen the Philippine military aside from US help in establishing a national coast watch center that would help protect the archipelago's 36,000-kilometer coastline, according to Aquino.

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Philippine Air Force to acquire ten attack helicopters by 2013

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is planning to acquire ten attack helicopters by the end of 2012, in an effort to upgrade its combat capabilities.
The acquisitions will form part of a P75bn ($1.8bn) modernisation programme for the Philippine Armed Forces.
PAF spokesman, lieutenant colonel Miguel Okol, was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying that the new aircraft will replace the air force's ageing fleet of OV-10 Bronco and MG520 attack helicopters.
''The new aircraft will be used for internal security operations, border security and support operations," Okol added.
Okol said helicopters from Italy, the UK, France, Russia and South Africa are currently being considered for the contract, refusing to specify the models, and the cost of the acquisition, but confirmed the required funds have already been allocated by the Government.

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Philippines may acquire 12 Yak-130 aircraft

The government of Philippines is considering the possibility of acquiring 12 operational trainers from one of four foreign suppliers, including Russia, in the network of air forces’ modernization program, RIA Novosti reports with reference to Philippines News Agency (PNA).

Manila will make its final choice between Yak-130 (Russia), KAI TA-50 (South Korea), M-346 (Italy) and Hawk (UK) in July, the agency noted with reference to Philippine Minister of Defense, Voltaire Gazmin.

"The program for modernization of our air forces has reached its peak and these projects will surely provide Philippine air forces with brand-new and reliable vehicles", - the minister noted.


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Philippines To Upgrade Air Force In Two Years

The Philippines today announced that it is all set to upgrade its poorly-equipped Air Force and in two years will acquire new warplanes.

      Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said that deliveries of attack aircraft, lead-in fighter-trainers, attack helicopters and light and medium transport aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of 2014.

      “These aircraft shall once and for all, erase the ironic and naughty commentary that our present Air Force is all air, devoid of force,” Gazmin said.

      By the end of July, the Defense Department plans to sign contracts implementing 138 military modernization projects over the next five years. Gazmin, however, refused to say how much the contracts would cost or who would supply such equipment.

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Philippines Downplays Request for U.S. Surveillance Drones

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MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines on July 3 said the deployment of U.S. spy planes, suggested by President Benigno Aquino, was just one option to monitor the country’s territory, as China appealed for stability in the region.
“If they happen at all, they are surveillance flights, they are not meant to be provocative. There’s no offensive capability here,” said Ricky Carandang, the president’s spokesman.
China’s foreign ministry, in an embassy statement quoting spokesman Liu Weimin, called on all parties to maintain “peace and stability” in the South China Sea.
“We have noticed the reports,” the spokesman said. “It is the hope of the Chinese side that peace and stability can be maintained ... and parties concerned do things conducive to regional peace and stability.”
It did not specify the Philippines or the United States or mention the three-month long dispute between China and the Philippines over the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. The dispute began after Chinese government vessels blocked Philippine ships from arresting Chinese fishermen near the shoal April 10.
Both countries have been pressing their respective claims to the area, with the poorly equipped Philippines seeking the support of the U.S., its main defense ally.
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters close to the coasts of neighboring countries. The Philippines says the shoal is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.
The shoal sits about 140 miles (230 kilometers) from the western coast of the Philippines’ main island of Luzon. The nearest major Chinese land mass is 1,200 kilometers northwest of the shoal, according to Philippine Navy maps.

Source :

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Chinese vessel rams Philippine boat near Scarborough Shoal: Duowei

A Chinese fishing vessel bound for the Scarborough Shoal. (Photo/Xinhua)

A Chinese vessel is said to have "accidentally" rammed a Philippine fishing boat near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, killing one man and leaving four missing, reports Duowei News, a US-based paper that has reported rumors that are difficult to prove.
The Philippine fishing boat set out on June 18 from the northern coastal town of Bolinao in Pangasinan province and sunk two days later, Duowei reported, citing Philippine media.
"Of the eight fishermen aboard, four were plucked out of sea only yesterday, but one of them died in a hospital," said Benito Ramos, the chief of the Philippine Office of Civil Defence. "Four more are still missing."
The fishermen claimed that they were rammed by a boat they believed was Chinese, adding that the people onboard "looked Chinese."
"They did not [help]," Ramos said of the occupants on the other boat. "That's why it's suspicious. If it was accidental, then they should have helped."
Ramos said the incident occurred north of the Scarborough Shoal, an area over which both China and the Philippines claim sovereignty. The two countries have been engaged in a tense standoff since April, when Chinese government vessels blocked Philippine ships from arresting Chinese fishermen near the shoal.
Tensions eased earlier this month after the Philippines ordered two ships to be pulled out from the region due to bad weather and the Chinese responded by saying it would also ask its fishermen to leave the area. As of last week, however, there were still seven Chinese ships at the shoal, according to the Philippines foreign ministry.
A spokesperson from the Chinese embassy in the Philippines said they did not receive any information about a boat collision involving a Chinese vessel near the shoal. The spokesperson said media reports on the incident have yet to be verified, calling for reporters to act more responsibly.
China Newsweek magazine reported that more than 750 Chinese boats were robbed and at least 49 Chinese were injured or killed in the South China Sea between 1989 and 2010.
Several days ago, Chinese academic Lang Xianping wrote on his Sina Weibo microblog that peace and restraint will only make rogue states more aggressive.
"For the lasting peace of the South China Sea, we urgently need a war!" Lang wrote.

Source :http://www.wantchinatimes.com

South Korean Jets For The Philippines

The Philippines has ordered twelve South Korean TA-50 armed trainers for $49 million each. The price includes training, spare parts, and some tech support. The single engine, two seat aircraft is intended to restore jet combat aircraft capability in the Philippines Air Force. The first TA-50 will be delivered next year and the last of them the year after that.
The TA-50 is the combat version of the South Korean designed and manufactured T-50 jet trainer. This aircraft was developed over the last decade, at a cost of over two billion dollars. The first test flight of the T-50 took place in 2002. The 13 ton aircraft is actually a light fighter and can fly at supersonic speeds. With some added equipment (radars and fire control) the T-50 becomes the TA-50, a combat aircraft. This version carries a 20mm auto-cannon and up to 4.5 tons of smart bombs and missiles. The T-50 can stay in the air about four hours per sortie and has a service life of 8,000 flight hours.
Seven years ago the Philippines removed from service its eight F-5 fighters. These 1960s era aircraft were not much of a match for more recent warplanes and were expensive to maintain. In the meantime, the Philippines used armed trainer aircraft for strikes against Moslem and communist rebels.
Four years ago the Philippines Air Force bought another 18 Italian SF-260 trainers, for about $812,000 each. The SF-260 has been around for over 40 years and about a thousand have been produced. This is a 1.1 ton, two seat aircraft, with a max speed of 347 kilometers an hour, and an endurance of about six hours. It can be equipped to carry a 100-150 kg (220-330 pounds) of weapons and be used as a light attack aircraft. The Philippines had previously bought 64 SF-260s and has been using them for decades. Because of operational losses and wear-and-tear few are still in service.
Back then things were pretty desperate, or at least more desperate than usual, for the air force. The rising price of oil has forced sharp cutbacks in maritime patrol flights by its five Italian made S211 jet trainers. These five aircraft also served as the only fighter aircraft the Philippines had. The Philippines bought more helicopters, which were very useful in fighting Moslem and communist rebels. The Philippines originally bought 25 S211s in the 1980s, but due to accidents and lack of maintenance only about five were available for service most of the time.
The 2.7 ton S211s have a max speed of 665 kilometers an hour and can stay in the air for about five hours per sortie. The S211s were not really doing much with the maritime reconnaissance flights, as the aircraft lacked search radar and depended on the eyes of the two pilots to spot anything. The SF-260s replaced the remaining S211s. 

Source :http://www.strategypage.com 

China: Philippines Pullout From Shoal Calms Tension

MANILA — China said June 18 it welcomed Philippine President Benigno Aquino's order pulling out two ships from a disputed shoal and expressed hope it would calm tensions.

"The Chinese side has been urging the Philippine side to take measures to de-escalate the situation," Chinese embassy spokesman Zhang Hua said in a statement. "We have noticed the withdrawal of government vessels by the Philippine side, and hope this action will help ease the tension."

Philippine Foreign Department spokesman Raul Hernandez said Aquino ordered the vessels to leave the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea on June 15 as passing tropical storm Gutchol dumped heavy rains across large parts of the Philippines.

Hernandez stressed this did not mean the country was giving up on the shoal but he would not say if any Philippine ships would be returning after the weather improved.

He said both China and the Philippines had agreed to pull its ships out of a lagoon of the shoal, but there was no accord to withdraw from the area permanently.

He added that as of the last count June 14, there were still seven Chinese ships at the shoal.

A statement on the Chinese embassy's website June 18 meanwhile said Beijing had deployed a vessel to help its fishermen pull out of the shoal, as well, due to bad weather and a strong tide.

The Philippine vessels had been posted in Scarborough Shoal, which the Chinese call Huangyan Island, over the past two months amid a tense territorial standoff.

A larger number of Chinese maritime patrol vessels, as well as fishing boats, were also in the area, according to the Philippines, though both sides imposed unilateral fishing bans in the area during the dispute.

The dispute began after Chinese government vessels blocked Philippine ships from arresting Chinese fishermen near the shoal April 10.

Since then, both countries have maintained ships there to press their respective claims to the area.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, even waters close to the coasts of neighboring countries. The Philippines says the shoal is well within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

The Philippines and Vietnam have in recent years accused China of becoming increasingly aggressive in staking its claim.

The shoal sits about 140 miles from the Philippines' main island of Luzon.

Source :

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Pacific Partnership 2012 arrives in the Philippines

SAMAR, Philippines (NNS) -- Military Sealift Command's hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived in the Philippines June 18, to begin the second host nation visit of the Pacific Partnership 2012 (PP12) mission.

Now in its seventh year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual humanitarian and civic action (HCA) mission in the Asia Pacific region and is designed to strengthen regional partnerships and enhance a collective ability to respond to natural disasters and crisis.

PP12 is scheduled for a four-and-a-half month deployment with visits to the host nations of Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. This year's Pacific Partnership participants represent a multinational, multi-organizational team that includes joint military and civilians from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Malaysia, Peru, the Netherlands, and the United States; non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Global Grins, Latter Day Saints Charities, Project Handclasp, Project Hope, University of Hawaii Schools of Nursing and Engineering, University of California San Diego Pre Dental Society, and World Vets.

At the invitation of the Republic of the Philippines and in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), these participants will employ their collaborative HCA capabilities to provide medical, dental, veterinary, public health services, civic engineering, and disaster response activities to help the local communities of Northern and Western Samar, including San Isidro, Calbayog and Catbalogan. Working with local community leaders, the Partnership will provide a tailored approach to humanitarian and civic action projects as well as subject matter expert exchanges enabling the communities to better prepare to respond in crisis.

"Developing a plan and having a clear public information campaign will definitely help the next time a disaster strikes," said Capt. James Morgan, mission commander for PP12. "I like to call this 'preparing in calm to respond in crisis,' which is the motto of Pacific Partnership 2012."

This is the third return visit for USNS Mercy to the shores of Samar. Calbayog city hosted the Mercy and crew of Pacific Partnership 2008, and this year also marks the 25th anniversary of Mercy's maiden voyage and first visit to Calbayog in May of 1987.

"We have enjoyed looking at the historical photos of Mercy's visit to Samar in 1987," said Capt. Timothy Hinman, commanding officer of the medical treatment facility hospital aboard Mercy. "We are very happy to be returning to Samar to celebrate this very special silver anniversary."

Mercy will remain anchored offshore due to her large size and depth compared to the Calbayog pier facilities. At a length of 984 feet, Mercy will move patients, doctors and nurses, and crew back and forth using two 33-foot utility boats, 12 to 16 hours per day, ferrying passengers from ship to shore and back.

"This is a challenging and unique mission that requires an advanced level of seamanship, dedication and sensitivity," said Capt. Olmsted, Mercy's civil service master. "My crew is looking forward to participating in the shore mission as well, assisting with specialized engineering projects and subject matter exchanges."

Immediately following the December 2004 tsunami that struck Oceania and the Indian Ocean basin, the U.S. hospital ship USNS Mercy was deployed to support international relief efforts. Now in the seventh year, Pacific Partnership is aimed at strengthening regional relationships with Southeast Asian and Oceania nations that might be called upon to respond to natural or humanitarian disasters.

Pacific Partnership 2012 is led by three different element commanders: Capt. James Morgan, mission commander for Pacific Partnership 2012 and commander of the San Diego-based Destroyer Squadron SEVEN; Capt. Jonathan Olmsted, of the Military Sealift Command and Mercy's civil service master; and, Capt. Timothy Hinman, commander of the medical treatment facility, which is responsible for the hospital and providing care aboard Mercy and on shore.

Source : US Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

Pentagon: U.S. To Help Philippines with Radar

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said June 12 it plans to provide a land-based radar to the Philippines, as the country faces an escalating dispute with China over territorial rights off its shore.

The radar would form part of a “watch center” to help track ships off the island nation’s coast line, a Pentagon spokeswoman said.

“We are in the initial planning stages of assisting the Philippines with a National Coast Watch Center,” Major Catherine Wilkinson told AFP.

“This center will improve their maritime domain awareness of a breadth of security issues, including counter-proliferation of (weapons of mass destruction) to countering illegal smuggling,” she said.

The cost and the timeline for the project were still being worked out, she said.

Plans to provide a powerful radar to the Philippines came after Philippine President Benigno Aquino paid a visit last week to the White House, where he was offered a robust show of support.

Manila has asked for the radar system and other military assistance to bolster its position in a row with Beijing over the Scarborough Shoal, which lies near the main Philippine island of Luzon.

China claims the area along with virtually all of the South China Sea up to the shores of other Southeast Asian nations, including Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

The move reflects Washington’s strategic shift towards Asia amid a growing rivalry with Beijing, with the South China Sea at the center of the contest, analysts said.

“Land-based radar is one of the practical ways the United States can simultaneously boost Philippine defense capabilities and signal Washington’s long-term commitment to Asia,” said Patrick Cronin, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington think tank.

China may choose to defuse tensions just before a gathering of the10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations next month, Cronin said. “But it is also possible that China is determined to humiliate the Philippines and, indirectly, the United States,” he told AFP.

The Philippines has also expressed interest in patrol vessels and aircraft to help monitor the vast waters off its coast, where the Chinese have sent ships to assert their territorial claims.

It was unlikely the U.S. would look at providing military aircraft at a time when China may be preparing a conciliatory gesture, Cronin said.

“If China persists with embarrassing the Philippines, then I have no doubt aircraft sales will follow,” he said.

Source :

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE