The United
States and Philippine navies held a joint naval patrol on Saturday in dangerous
southern Philippine waters, amid rising international concern about Islamist
militancy and piracy in the region.
US Navy
littoral combat ship USS Coronado joined a Philippine Navy frigate, BRP
Alcaraz, in patrolling the Sulu Sea where numerous pirate attacks on commercial
shipping have been made since 2015.
“Our at-sea
operations with the Philippine Navy demonstrate our commitment to the alliance
and deter piracy and illegal activities,” US Rear Admiral Don Gabrielson said
in a statement issued by the US embassy in Manila.
There are
international fears fighters sympathetic to Islamic State will cross maritime
borders between Malaysia and Indonesia to join Muslim rebels who seized Marawi
City in the southern Philippines five weeks ago.
About 300
militants, 82 security forces and 44 civilians have been killed in the
fighting.
The naval
patrols were held at the invitation of the Philippine government, the US
embassy said. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte does not allow joint patrols
with the United States in the disputed South China Sea to avoid damaging its
relations with China, which claims the sea as its own.
But he
welcomes cooperation in the south due to increased militant activity. Two weeks
ago, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines held joint naval patrols in
southern waters.
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