US warship to visit PH amid sea dispute
The USS Shiloh. Photo from US NAVY
A US warship is set to make a port visit over the weekend in Subic Bay amid China’s assertiveness in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
In a statement on Friday, the US Embassy said the port visit of USS Shiloh (CG-67) is part of an ongoing patrol in the Pacific theater.
“The USS Shiloh is part of the forward-deployed Naval Forces of the US 7th Fleet—the US Department of Defense unified combatant responsible for the overall stability of the Indo-Asia -Pacific region.”
On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter reiterated his country’s “ironclad” commitment to the Philippines and at the same time called for an end to land reclamation in the West Philippine Sea.
China has made significant progress in its reclamation activities in seven reefs in the disputed waterway, also a major trade route.
Last week, China ordered a US spy plane to leave an area above the Kalayaan Island Group (Spratly Islands). The US military said it was flying in an international airspace.
The Philippines has also received the same challenges from China in its recent patrol flights.
The US has deployed more aircraft and ships to Asia in the last two years as part of its “rebalance” to Asia.
The warship that would dock in Subic is a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser and serves as a multi-role warship capable of facing and defeating threats in the air, on sea, or ashore.
USS Shiloh is also capable of employing two SH-60 Seahawk multipurpose helicopters, used primarily for antisubmarine warfare. Its homeport is in Yokosuka, Japan, and is commanded by Captain Kurush Morris.
“The routinely scheduled port visit will permit the ship to replenish supplies, strengthen people-to-people ties through community outreach and will afford the approximately 360-person crew of which 31 are Filipino-American, the opportunity to briefly experience Filipino culture, which is reflective of strong, historic, community and military connections,” the US Embassy said. RC
