4th US destroyer on 'routine' port call in Manila

The USS Gridley (DDG-101), an Arleigh-Burke Class Destroyer, on Monday arrived for a “routine port call” in Manila, the United States embassy here said.

“This visit will allow the ship to replenish supplies as well as give the crew an opportunity for rest and relaxation,” the embassy said in a statement.

It did not say how long the battleship will stay in the country.

The USS Gridley DDG-101 is part of the US Pacific Fleet and is homeported in San Diego, California. The ship is named for Captain Charles Gridley, Commander of the USS Olympia who was famously told by Admiral George Dewey to “fire when you ready, Gridley” in the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War.

The destroyer is the fourth to visit the country this year.

On October 24, USS Cowpens (CG-63) and USS McCampbell (DDG-85) escorted the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group (CVN-73) to Manila.

Prior to this, the destroyer USS Milius visited the country.

Also this year alone, the country was host of the USS Bonehomme Richard, a landing assault ship; submarine tender USS Frank Cable; and four nuclear-powered submarines – USS Olympia (SSN-717), USS North Carolina, USS Hawaii, and USS Louisville (SSN 724).

Visits of different warships of the US Pacific Command (USPACOM) in the country have become frequent this year following the increased military presence of China in connection with the disputed Spratly Islands partly located in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

The Philippines and US has an existing Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) and a separate Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that allow visits of US warships and troops in the country as well as joint Philippine-US military exercises.

Because of the increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea, the US government said it will increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific to protect its political and economic interest in the region.

The WPS is host of the biggest economic sea lane in the world.

Aside from China and Philippines, the other claimant countries of the oil-rich maritime area are Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. 

The Philippines and China have also a separate dispute over the Panatag Shoal, a maritime area located within the territory of Masinloc, Zambales.-Interaksyon (November 19, 2012 12:43PM)