MANILA: The militaries of the Philippine and the United States sailed together this week at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, Manila’s armed forces said on Tuesday, in joint exercises aimed at easing cooperation between the treaty allies.
Military engagements between them have soared under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has pivoted closer to Washington in response to China’s growing presence in the South China Sea.
The 11th such drill between the United States and the Philippines since November 2023 was held in the Scarborough Shoal in South China Sea waters in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, which China also claims as part of its territory.
“The successful conduct of these activities enhanced coordination, tactical proficiency, and mutual understanding between allied forces,” the Philippine armed forces said in a statement.
The event showcased the Philippines’ frigate Antonio Luna, a Philippine coast guard offshore patrol vessel, as well as two military planes and a helicopter.
The US Indo-Pacific Command deployed the John Finn, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer that transited the Taiwan Strait two weeks ago, and an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
On Tuesday, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese military said it held a routine patrol in the South China Sea from Sunday to Monday, without specifying the location.
“The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organize the so-called ‘joint patrols’, disrupting peace and stability in the South China Sea,” it said in a statement.
“The theater command forces will resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability.”
China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
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Philippine, US hold joint military drill at disputed South China Sea shoal
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Philippine, US hold joint military drill at disputed South China Sea shoal
- The event showcased the Philippines’ frigate Antonio Luna, a Philippine coast guard offshore patrol vessel, as well as two military planes and a helicopter
Carney, other leaders to mourn victims at site of Canada mass shooting
OTTOWA: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and opposition leaders will attend a vigil in the remote town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on Friday to pay respects to the victims of one of the country’s worst mass shootings.
Carney, a Liberal, will be joined by Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre and Yves-Francois Blanchet, the head of the third-largest party, the Bloc Quebecois, as they set aside their differences to mourn the eight victims of Tuesday’s shooting.
Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, who had suffered a series of mental health problems, killed her mother and stepbrother before shooting a teacher and five young students at the school in Tumbler Ridge, a settlement of around 2,400 in the Canadian Rockies, according to police.
Van Rootselaar, who police say was born a male but began identifying as a woman six years ago, then died by suicide.
The mass shooting was one of the worst in Canadian history. The deadliest took place in April 2020 when a 51-year-old man shot and killed 22 people in Nova Scotia, before police shot him dead.
Few townspeople wanted to speak to media on Thursday and British Columbia police said families and friends of the victims had requested privacy.
Police on Thursday named the school victims as Abel Mwansa, 12, Ezekiel Schofield, 13, Kylie Smith, 12, Zoey Benoit, 12, Ticaria Lampert, 12 as well as teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
Van Rootselaar had first killed Jennifer Jacobs, her 39-year-old mother, and her stepbrother Emmett Jacobs, 11.
“Rest in paradise, sweet girl, our family will never be the same without you,” Smith’s family said in a statement released by police.
Police said on Wednesday they had at one point seized guns from the house where Van Rootselaar was living but returned them after the owner, who they did not identify, successfully appealed the decision.
Carney, a Liberal, will be joined by Conservative chief Pierre Poilievre and Yves-Francois Blanchet, the head of the third-largest party, the Bloc Quebecois, as they set aside their differences to mourn the eight victims of Tuesday’s shooting.
Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, who had suffered a series of mental health problems, killed her mother and stepbrother before shooting a teacher and five young students at the school in Tumbler Ridge, a settlement of around 2,400 in the Canadian Rockies, according to police.
Van Rootselaar, who police say was born a male but began identifying as a woman six years ago, then died by suicide.
The mass shooting was one of the worst in Canadian history. The deadliest took place in April 2020 when a 51-year-old man shot and killed 22 people in Nova Scotia, before police shot him dead.
Few townspeople wanted to speak to media on Thursday and British Columbia police said families and friends of the victims had requested privacy.
Police on Thursday named the school victims as Abel Mwansa, 12, Ezekiel Schofield, 13, Kylie Smith, 12, Zoey Benoit, 12, Ticaria Lampert, 12 as well as teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
Van Rootselaar had first killed Jennifer Jacobs, her 39-year-old mother, and her stepbrother Emmett Jacobs, 11.
“Rest in paradise, sweet girl, our family will never be the same without you,” Smith’s family said in a statement released by police.
Police said on Wednesday they had at one point seized guns from the house where Van Rootselaar was living but returned them after the owner, who they did not identify, successfully appealed the decision.
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