US and Philippines Cancel Ship-Sinking Drill After WWII-Era Target Unexpectedly Capsizes

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine Navy vessel from World War II was intended for use as a target during an upcoming joint combat training exercise involving both American and Filipino forces. However, the ship unexpectedly sunk on Monday prior to the simulation, leading to the cancellation of the drill, according to statements made by U.S. and Philippine military officials.

The BRP Miguel Malvar, retired from service by the Philippine Navy in 2021, started taking on water when it was being towed through turbulent seas. disputed South China Sea and it went down approximately 30 nautical miles (55 kilometers) west of the Philippine province of Zambales. The vessel tilted and submerged without anyone aboard, according to statements from the Philippine military.

The American and Filipino troops will continue their scheduled live-fire exercises near Zambales on Monday, even after the unexpected sinking of the Malvar. According to Captain John Percie Alcos from the Philippine navy, this ship had initially served as a patrol boat for the U.S. Navy during the 1940s prior to being passed over to Vietnam’s naval forces; later, it came under possession of the Philippines’ armed forces.

"The vessel is an 80-year-old wreck and couldn't handle the harsh waves," said Philippine Lt. Col. John Paul Salgado to The Associated Press.

The vessel-sinking drill was scheduled in an offshore region confronting the intensely contested Scarborough Shoal , which has been tightly protected by the Chinese coast guard, navy, and alleged maritime militia vessels.

The Philippines likewise asserts claim over the fishing atoll, located approximately 220 kilometers (137 miles) west of Zambales. Both Chinese and Filipino forces have experienced confrontations in this area. increasingly hostile confrontations In the waters and airspace around Scarborough in recent years.

The cancelled ship-sinking drill It would have been the third exercise of this kind organized by the treaty allies in recent times. The event was meant to highlight large-scale annual military drills conducted jointly between the United States and the Philippines from April 21 to May 9, involving approximately 14,000 American and Filipino service members.

Known as Balikatan, which means "shoulder-to-shoulder" in Tagalog, these military exercises have progressively centered on defending Philippine sovereignty amidst China’s rising assertiveness in the South China Sea, an area over which Beijing asserts nearly complete control.

The mock battle scenarios enacted until now, such as reclaiming an island from enemy control, have mirrored promises made by the authorities. Trump administration , including by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that the U.S. would honor its treaty obligation to protect the Philippines should Filipino forces be subjected to an armed assault, even within the South China Sea region.

On Sunday, military personnel from the U.S., Australia, and the Philippines conducted drills simulating the recapture of an island from enemy forces in Balabac, a coastal town located in western Palawan province near the South China Sea.

Japanese forces and British marines joined as observers of the combat exercise, which “showcased the growing interoperability and cohesion among partner nations in maintaining regional security,” Salgado said.

What has been observed since Trump’s return to the White House is an impressive degree of consistency within the U.S.-Philippines alliance," noted Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at RAND Corporation. This continuity extends beyond shared military exercises to include American declarations affirming that their partnership remains 'unbreakable.'

The Trump administration aims to maintain pressure on China by supporting the Philippines," Grossman stated, though he also noted that it remains uncertain "how enduring this dedication might prove, considering the Trump administration appears less aggressive towards China compared to previous administrations.

China has vehemently opposed such exercises involving U.S. forces in or near the South China Sea or Taiwan, the island democracy, which Beijing claims as a province and has threatened to annex by force if necessary.

Nonetheless, U.S. and Philippine military authorities maintain that the combat drills were not intended to target China specifically; rather, they aim to discourage hostile actions across the area.