Filipino vessel sinks amid joint Philippines-US military drills

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - A decommissioned Filipino ship intended for use as a target in the ongoing "Balikatan" joint military exercise between the US and the Philippines sank on Monday before it could be utilized.

“The Balikatan 40-2025 Maritime Strike target vessel sank off the west coast of the Philippines prior to the event commencing today,” said a statement from the Philippine army.

The vessel sank at its designated site around 30 nautical miles (56 km) west of San Antonio, Zambales, after taking on water. It went down at 7:20 am local time (2320GMT), according to the statement shared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines on X.

No personnel were injured in the incident, the statement said, noting the ship was chosen for target practice as it had exceeded its service life and was no longer fit for regular operations.

The US and its oldest military ally in the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines, continue their annual military drills in the disputed South China Sea amid the ongoing tensions with Beijing.

Named the “Super Bowl” of exercises in the region, the three-week “Balikatan," or "shoulder to shoulder," drills are being attended by some 18,000 troops from both sides.

Balikatan 25 is taking place from April 21 to May 9 in Luzon Strait, which lies between the Philippines' Luzon Island and Taiwan.