September 1, 2024 — Since departing from its homeport last spring, a Canadian warship has conducted two joint drills with the Philippines and other allies.
The maneuvers were held amid tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines has competing territorial claims with other countries, particularly regional power China.
Participating in the exercises was His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Montreal, a frigate with 250 sailors that include four with Filipino ancestry.
One of these sailors is Petty Officer 2nd class Nicole Fabella, a naval communicator who was born in the Philippine province of Zamboanga.
When HMCS Montreal docked in Manila on August 2, 2024, Fabella expressed her wish to help strengthen ties between Canada and the Philippines.
“I am happy to return to the Philippines as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy,” Fabella said in media reports.
“We are doing important work for the peace and stability in the region,” she also said.
The Canadian frigate had a five-day goodwill visit until August 6. The warship then proceeded to a joint sail with the navies of the Philippines, United States, and Australia from August 7 to August 8.
For the joint maritime exercise, the Armed Forces of the Philippines deployed the Philippine Navy (PN) ship Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas (BRP) Jose Rizal, and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz.
Australia dispatched a Poseidon aircraft, while the U.S. fielded the guided missile cruiser United States Ship (USS) Lake Erie.
HMCS Montréal’s crew includes Royal Canadian Air Force aviators to fly and support the ship’s Cyclone maritime helicopter.
A report by the U.S. Naval Institute noted that the four-nation drill was conducted in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which stretches about 200 nautical miles from a country’s territorial waters.
The report related that HMCS Montréal dispatched several sailors to Philippine ship Ramon Alcaraz, while the two Philippine Navy ships each sent a sailor to Montréal.
“Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” asserted a statement signed by the defense chiefs of Canada, Australia and the Philippines and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral. Sam Paparo.
The four countries also expressed support for a 2016 international tribunal that ruled against China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
“We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order. Our four nations reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute.”
Previously, HMCS Montreal participated in a joint naval drill with the Philippines, U.S., and Japan in the Philippines’ EEZ from June 16 to June 17.
The exercise also featured the Philippines' BRP Andres Bonifacio, the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Murasame-class destroyer JS Kirisame.
The Philippines is part of a six-nation dispute over the South China Sea.
China claims most of the contested waters. Its vessels have figured in incidents with Philippine watercrafts.
Like the Philippines, four other nations have claims over portions of the South China Sea. These are Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
HMCS Montreal set sail from its homeport of Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 15, 2024 for a six-month deployment in the Indo-Pacific region.
The deployment is part of Canada’s Operation Horizon, which focuses on joint exercises and diplomatic efforts for regional security in the Indo-Pacific.
The frigate is the first of three Royal Canadian Navy warships that will be deploying in 2024 for Operation Horizon.
Rear-Admiral Josée Kurtz serves as Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic and Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic.
‘As the first ship to deploy on Operation Horizon this year, the sailors and aviators on board HMCS Montréal will collaborate with our international partners, contribute towards regional security, and strengthen the strategic interests of Canada,” Kurtz said in a government news release.
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