Philippines sends BRP Dagupan City to ASEAN-China maritime drill

October 16, 2018

The Philippines will send BRP Dagupan City to join an eight-day first-ever maritime drill between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, a Philippine Navy spokesman said Tuesday. Commander Jonathan Zata said BRP Dagupan City will leave from Capt. Salvo Pier, Naval Base, Cavite City Wednesday with a 300-man crew of sailors and Marines.  The exercise will take place  off the coast of Zhangjiang scheduled Oct. 21. “They will be participating in the first-ever maritime exercise between the People’s Republic of China and ASEAN-member states,” Zata said. The  ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise (ACMEX) 2018 will be hosted by the Singapore Navy and China’s People Liberation Army, Navy. Zata said the drill will promote military exchanges between ASEAN member states navies and their Chinese counterparts, focusing on maritime safety, search-and-rescue at sea with emphasis on the use of Code of Unplanned Encounters at Sea. The maritime drill was proposed by China at the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Singapore last February. DMS