"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
The Philippine Coast Guard should be getting a good chunk of this.
"In a statement on Tuesday, October 10, House appropriations committee chairperson Zaldy Co said a total of P1.23 billion in confidential funds were realigned to agencies at the forefront of efforts to assert the #Philippines’ territorial rights in the #WestPhilippineSea." #SouthChinaSea
Linking the Philippine Air Force Saab #JAS39Gripen multi-role fighter (MRF) thread to the #WestPHSea thread. There is a strong possibility the #Philippines will be getting more than 14 MRF's (12 Gripen C & 2 Gripen D) since that number won't be enough to cover our #EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone).
Note that the PAF was also considering getting F16's from the US though that proved too expensive for the original budget. Delivery time was also longer.
#China has pissed off Canada several times, it's just not us na binabastos nila.
While neither Filipino and Canadian officials will say it out loud, the dark vessel detection system is an invaluable tool as the #Philippines becomes more assertive in defending its territory and asserting its claim over the #WestPhilippineSea, or parts of the #SouthChinaSea within its exclusive economic zone.
The island is located 141 km (88 mi) southeast of the southern tip of #Taiwan's main island and 98 km (61 mi) to the nearest Taiwanese island, the "Lesser Orchid Island".
For reference, a flight from Manila to Baguio is 210km(130 mi) . #EEZ
In the #AFP, there are area commands, with units from the different services under its wing, and there are commands that offer support to the whole military. The #CyberGroup is one of those support units, alongside the AFP Reserve Command and Procurement Service, among others. #Philippines#cybersecurity
Brawner said he wants the Cyber Group expanded into a command so it can have more personnel and equipment.
The #Philippines accused #China’s coast guard of “dangerous blocking manoeuvres” that caused it to collide with a Philippine resupply boat about 25km from #SecondThomasShoal, where the warship was deliberately run aground decades ago to underline the Philippines’ claims in the sea. #BRPSierraMadre#WestPHSea
During their scheduled early November summit in the #Philippines, Prime Minister #FumioKishida and President #FerdinandMarcos Jr. are expected to greenlight negotiations for a "reciprocal access agreement," facilitating the presence of visiting forces, according to sources.
#MANILA, #Philippines — The Philippine Coast Guard (#PCG) will receive five additional multi-role response vessels from #Japan within the term of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., according to National Economic and Development Authority (#NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Thursday. #WestPHSea#SouthChinaSea
Sen. #GracePoe, the sponsor of the #DOTr 2024 budget, said the #PCG was spending P1.7 billion yearly for fuel alone. She added that most PCG vessels were “inoperable” as these had not been maintained due to insufficient funds. #Philippines
It is rare for a head of state to visit the USINDOPACOM, and Malacañang said Marcos was the first Philippine president to set foot in the military base.
The patrols involve three navy ships and three fighter-jets from the Philippine military, which were to be joined by one littoral combat ship and one aircraft from the #American side.
On Tuesday, the Philippine Air Force’s #FA50 light combat aircraft flew in tandem with the US Air Force’s #F15C fighter jets and C-130 from #Batanes to the #WestPhilippineSea to test joint flight doctrines and further enhance interoperability, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. #Philippines#US#SouthChinaSea
#MANILA, #Philippines — Three of the #PhilippineCoastGuard (PCG) multirole response vessels often used in regular resupply missions to a military outpost in #WestPhilippineSea (WPS) participated in joint water cannon and towing drills between Philippines and #Japan.