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                  US Announces Joint Patrols With Philippines

   by Carla Babb

   The U.S. military has been conducting joint patrols in the South China
   Sea with the Philippines and is increasing its presence on the
   archipelago with rotational forces and equipment, U.S. Secretary of
   Defense Ash Carter said Thursday.

   Speaking at a news conference in Manila with his Filipino counterpart,
   Carter said the first South China Sea joint patrol was carried out in
   March and the second was completed in early April.

   The Philippines is now the second country, behind Japan, with which
   U.S. forces have conducted joint patrols in the controversial sea,
   according to a defense official.

   The announcement comes as China continues to act aggressively over
   disputed territories in the South China Sea.

   China has created some 1,200 hectares of artificial islands atop reefs
   in the disputed Spratly Islands, a group of islands, reefs and cays
   near the Philippines that are claimed by Beijing, Manila and others.

   ''

   Rotational forces

   Carter said hundreds of U.S. troops and about 10 aircraft will remain
   in the archipelago immediately after annual joint Balikatan exercises
   conclude on Friday.

   About 200 U.S. airmen from multiple Pacific Air Forces units are being
   deployed with three HH-60G Pave Hawks, five A-10C Thunderbolt IIs and
   an MC-130H Combat Talon II to Clark Air Base on Luzon island through
   the end of the month.

   In addition, up to 75 U.S. military personnel will stay at Camp
   Aguinaldo, just east of Manila, to work on interoperability between the
   two militaries and enhance join command and control capabilities. A
   defense official said the forces at Camp Aguinaldo would be primarily
   Marines.

   These rotational forces will have "routine follow-ons" by other U.S.
   troops, according to a senior defense official. The follow-ons will be
   "regular, but not continuous," the official said.

   Other types of aircraft also could be deployed for a rotation in the
   archipelago in the future, another defense official said.

   ''

   ISR, maritime awareness

   Carter announced several U.S. military investments as part of the
   Southeast Asia Maritime Security Initiative that are focusing on
   maritime domain awareness and intelligence, reconnaissance and
   surveillance.

   The United States will provide the Philippines with an aerostat
   reconnaissance blimp and outfit a Philippine Navy patrol vessel with
   upgraded sensors to survey surrounding waters.

   It also will help modernize the Philippines National Coast Watch Center
   and enhance a joint information network to allow the sharing of
   classified communications between U.S. Pacific command, based in
   Hawaii, and key Philippines maritime command centers.

   "This will be an important boost for Philippine maritime domain
   awareness and their ability to see what's happening out there past
   their coasts," a senior defense official said.

   The Philippines is receiving about 80 percent of the $50 million
   allotted for the Maritime Security Initiative's first year, according
   to a senior defense official.

   The five-year, $425 million program is aimed at assisting Southeast
   Asian nations in improving their naval and coast guard capabilities.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-announces-joint-patrols-with-philippines/3285277.html