Politics
21:47, 20-Aug-2017
US, Southeast Asian navies start maritime drills Monday
["north america","other","Asia"]
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Navies and coast guard personnel from the US and Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines start their annual maritime security exercises on Monday, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said on Sunday.
Armand Balilo said in a statement that the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise 2017 will include actual "at-sea exercises" and maritime seminars in the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei.
This year, SEACAT will focus on regional cooperation to address shared maritime security challenges like terrorism, smuggling, piracy and other illicit activities at sea, he said.
A US marine runs next to an Amphibious Assault vehicle (AAV) during a beach landing, as part of the Philippines-US amphibious landing exercise (PHIBLEX) at a naval training base in San Antonio town, Zambales Province, north of Manila on October 7, 2016. /AFP Photo
A US marine runs next to an Amphibious Assault vehicle (AAV) during a beach landing, as part of the Philippines-US amphibious landing exercise (PHIBLEX) at a naval training base in San Antonio town, Zambales Province, north of Manila on October 7, 2016. /AFP Photo
In the Philippines, the exercises will be held in waters off Zambales Province north of Manila and Sulu Province in the south.
He added that at-sea exercises will also take place in waters around Singapore and Brunei.
He said three PCG ships and around 50 personnel will participate.
SEACAT, which began in 2002 under the name "Southeast Asian Cooperation Against Terrorism," was renamed in 2012 to expand the scope of training among regional navies and coast guard personnel.
2848km
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency