OFW RESCUED BY PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE AT WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) rescued an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who needed medical treatment while aboard an Italian ship cruising the West Philippine Sea last December 8.

The rescued  Filipino crew member Able Seaman Jaime Jerome  is onboard the Italian vessel M/V Marlene D'Amato.

PAF spokesman Colonel Antonio Francisco said the ship "requested for the aeromedical evacuation" of Jerome.

When the ship made this distress call, it was around 100 nautical miles west of Bolinao, Pangasinan.

Francisco said Air Force pilots lifted Jerome from M/V Marlene D'Amato to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City "despite the high level of risks posed by the deteriorating weather condition en route and the rough sea conditions which made the landing at the ship deck more difficult."

Francisco said this mission "exemplifies the PAF's commitment to put into action its thrust of developing a Jointly Engaged Transforming Force for greater peace and security."

Source:Rappler

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Dominador Say, undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said that talks are underway with Chinese embassy officials on this possibility. China’s five major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will soon be the destination for Filipino domestic workers who are seeking higher income.

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

JAPAN TO SEND MILITARY AID TO THE PHILIPPINES

JAPAN TO SEND MILITARY AID TO THE PHILIPPINES

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The Philippines will be the biggest recipient of Japan's capacity building assistance which include military technology and equipments to upgrade the country's own capability in safeguarding territorial waters in West Philippine Sea.
“There is a high possibility that we will make such a decision...We are very sympathetic that we should transfer those technology to the Philippines," according to Dr. Ken Jimbo, assistant professor at Keio University’s Faculty of Policy Management,whose specialization includes international security, security in Asia-Pacific, US defense policy and regionalization in East Asia,told Manila Bulletin in an interview. 

It was in April last year  when the Japanese government established three principles,that if satisfied would allow the transfer of defense technology and equipments.

In late February,Tokyo and Manila signed a defense equipment transfer agreement,the first in the region for any Sotheast Asian country.It promotes the joint production and developmentof defense equipment and technologies,establishing legal framework providing such actions.

During the visit of the former president Aquino last year,he reportedly submitted a list of equipments  urgently needed for securing the West Philippine Sea.

The list included:

P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft,

Shirane-Class Destroyers,

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Hayabusa-Class Missile Patrol Boats,

However,the Philippines has to have a better kind of training and operating infrastructure before these military equipments can be transferred. 

Oyashio-Class Submarines.

“We should start from the easy part first and then when those organization and human aspects are met, I think we are ready to transfer the P-3C,” “The P-3C is a high end technology and we really need to have high end training to operate those aircraft.”Jimbo said.
Jimbo noted that Japan used to rely heavily on its alliance to the U.S..Because of China and the shift of power balance,they had to seek new strategic partners among those emerging ASEAN members including the Philippines.

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Meanwhile,Former DILG Secretary and a senatorial bet under Duterte slate las election,Rafael Alunan III  has expressed his insights about the issue via Facebook.He referred to the news as "music to his ears".

sources:mb.com.ph/Rafael Alunan III @Facebook

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Dominador Say, undersecretary of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), said that talks are underway with Chinese embassy officials on this possibility. China’s five major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen will soon be the destination for Filipino domestic workers who are seeking higher income.

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO

U.S. Navy’s Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Sails Into the West Philippine Sea as China Turn Aggresive

In a sudden turn of event, and a sure warning to China for being aggressive, US and Japan and Indian navies will join forces in a tactical routine operations. In a press release by the 7th Fleet of the US Navy, it says,

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"The John C. Stennis Strike Group (JCSSG) is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea. The ships transited the Luzon Strait March 1 and have maintained a location in the eastern half of these international waters for four days."

Image from US NAVY.

(USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS Mobile Bay (CG 53) all conducted a replenishment-at-sea today receiving advanced biofuel, aviation fuel and supplies from USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7). Flight operations have occurred daily with Carrier Airwing (CVW) 9 conducting 266 sorties.)

(Numerous People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA(N)) vessels have remained in JCSSG’s vicinity during this time period."

“We have Chinese ships around us that we normally didn’t see in my past experience,” said Capt. Greg Huffman, Stennis’ commanding officer. Huffman previously deployed to the South China Sea in 2007. Everything I have heard over bridge-to-bridge channels has been good communications between professional mariners,” he added.)

image from moderntribune

(In recent months, other U.S. Navy ships have conducted similar events in the 7th Fleet area of operations including the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54), USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS McCampbell (DDG 85), the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62), and the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3)."

"JCSSG is the centerpiece of the Great Green Fleet, a year-long initiative highlighting the Navy’s efforts to transform its energy use to increase operational capability. The strike group is using energy efficiency measures, to include technologies and operational procedures, and alternative fuel in the course of its normal operations."

"JCSSG is on a regularly scheduled deployment to 7th Fleet. Associated units include USS Stennis with CVW-9 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21 embarked, guided-missile destroyers USS Stockdale, USS Chung-Hoon, and USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), and guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay."

"CVW-9 consists of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 71, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 14, Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112, Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133 and Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 151, 97, 41 and 14.)

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Image from the US Navy

The NAVY TIMES reported that the U.S. Navy has dispatched a small armada to the South China Sea.

(The carrier John C. Stennis, two destroyers, two cruisers and the 7th Fleet flagship have sailed into the disputed waters in recent days, according to military officials. The carrier strike group is the latest show of force in the tense region, with the U.S. asserting that China is militarizing the region to guard its excessive territorial claims.

Stennis is joined in the region by the cruisers Antietam and Mobile Bay, and the destroyers Chung-Hoon and Stockdale. The command ship Blue Ridge, the floating headquarters of the Japan-based 7th Fleet, is also in the area, en route to a port visit in the Philippines. Stennis deployed from Washington state on Jan. 15.) 
Source

©2016 THOUGHTSKOTO