Filipino troops stationed near the contested Spratly Islands are receiving special training from U.S. Navy commandos, Philippine military sources say.
The sources said Navy SEALs arrived Wednesday in this city, which includes the headquarters of the Philippine military's Western Command. The command is responsible for Philippine areas of the Spratlys, which are also claimed by China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei.The SEALs were followed Thursday by an American cargo vessel, the Baltomero Lopez. American naval personnel, wearing uniforms and SEAL T-shirts, were seen lounging in a local hotel lobby and at night spots around town.
A senior Filipino officer described the visit as "a low-keyed but visible symbol of U.S. support to its oldest ally in Asia."
It "has nothing to do with the Spratly issue," a joint statement by the Philippine Defense Department and armed forces said Monday. The training activity is "designed for the safety and protection of harbors, naval facilities and vessels," it said.
An American Embassy source said the visit was designed for joint training and to familiarize U.S. personnel with the area.
The U.S. military maintained facilities on Luzon Island until the Philippine Senate rejected a treaty that sought to extend the lease for the bases in 1991.