(Central News Agency reporter Chen Yanjun, Ilocos Norte, 18th) The Armed Forces of the Philippines recently held a series of military exercises at the northern tip of Luzon Island near Taiwan, including amphibious landing operations and combined arms live-fire exercises to strengthen the joint combat capabilities of various services and strengthen the Philippine The Chinese military defends its territorial and maritime security capabilities.
On the 15th, the Philippine military invited the media to the headquarters of the 4th Marine Brigade on the coast of Ilocos Norte to cover the joint live-fire firing of the Army, Navy and Air Force Joint Operation Exercise (DAGIT-PA). This exercise was conducted from the 6th to the 17th.
Since October 2022, the 4th Philippine Marine Brigade has been stationed in Ilocos Norte, the hometown of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., at the northwest tip of Luzon Island.
A reporter from Central News Agency asked whether the Philippine military’s construction of a Marine Corps base in Ilocos Norte shows that Manila is paying more and more attention to the strategic importance of the northern tip of the Philippines.
Exercise spokesman Michael Logico responded: “Yes, you can say that.”
Regarding why this exercise was chosen in Ilocos Norte, Losico said: “It is important for us to exercise in northern Luzon, especially since this is one of the areas that we consider to be critical to national security. This is also important to us. This challenge, as you can see, the sea conditions in northern Luzon are particularly challenging, which also increases the complexity of the exercise.”
“For us, the exercise in northern Luzon has important value. It increases the complexity of our exercises and also conveys our strategic message that we can do (these military operations) in Ilocos Norte,” he said. action).”
In addition to holding staff exercises, command post exercises, and security offensive and defensive exercises at the Armed Forces of the Philippines headquarters in Manila, this joint military exercise of the Army, Navy, and Air Force also includes joint maritime security operations exercises, joint arms live-fire shooting and urban warfare exercises, and joint non-operational exercises. Traditional operations, counter-terrorism and airborne operations, as well as joint amphibious landing operations exercises were all held in the provinces of Ilocos Norte and Cagayan, adjacent to Taiwan.
Losico said that this joint-arms live-fire exercise was a hypothetical “invasion from a maritime aggressor.” Targets representing aggressors were placed in the western part of Ilocos Norte and ground artillery and Super Tucano attack aircraft were used. Tucano), Agusta Westland (Agusta Westland) AW-109 helicopters and other equipment locked and attacked the target.
He expressed the hope that with the full participation of ground artillery, navy and air force, the joint combat capabilities of various services in coastal areas will be exercised, and the strength of the Philippine military in defending sovereign territory, including territorial waters, will be tested.
Amid heightened tensions across the Taiwan Strait and rising sovereignty over the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, the Philippines continues to modernize its military and strengthen military cooperation with allies such as the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Philippine Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner, who attended the inspection, said that the Philippines is planning to conduct larger-scale exercises, and this joint military exercise by land, sea and air is only part of it.
“We must emphasize that the exercise involves not only the Armed Forces of the Philippines, but also the Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police and, of course, partners and allies from like-minded countries,” he said.
“What we want to achieve is to ensure that the various components of the Armed Forces of the Philippines can operate together, so when we operate, especially our archipelago defense operations, we know how to fit into the bigger picture and the larger defense,” Brauner said. Concept.” (Editor: Gao Zhaofen) 1121118
