The Pacific Partnership 2016 (PP16), the 11^th annual deployment of forces from the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy (USN), began its journey in Viet Nam for the third consecutive year last Friday.

The Japanese Navy ship JSDS Shimokita (LST-4002) is pictured in Da Nang, July 15, 2016. Tuoi Tre

The event was marked by the arrival of the U.S. hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) and the Japanese Navy ship JSDS Shimokita (LST-4002), the U.S. Embassy in Ha Noi said in a press release the same day.

This is the seventh time in eleven years that this event has taken place in Viet Nam’s provinces and cities, and straight third time for Da Nang, according to the document. This year the Viet Nam People's Navy ship Khanh Hoa is also participating.

The PP16 is also joined by many partner nations, including Australia, Canada, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Palau, the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, Timor Leste, and the United Kingdom, with the purpose of improving disaster preparedness and regional responsiveness.

Da Nang's authorities has collaborated with central-level government agencies and PP16 partners to organise the 2-week event, with the aim of meeting the needs of Viet Nam and the city, and enhancing humanitarian cooperation and friendship exchange that contribute to promoting U.S. - Viet Nam national defense cooperation.

While in Viet Nam, PP16 personnel will work side-by-side with Vietnamese civilian medical officers, pay a courtesy call to leaders of the Da Nang administration, participate in civil engineering projects, exchange expertise with military medical staff on the Khanh Hoa, as well as participate in community projects.

In addition, Da Nang will organize Da Nang’s Foreigners Football Cup with the U.S. and Japanese PP16 teams in attendance.

Lt. Cmdr. Jason Dao, the American officer in charge of the Viet Nam mission, anticipates that this year’s multi-national program will augment previous years' collaboration and training opportunities. 

Dao underlined that the scope of the mission is slightly different from previous years’ missions.

“While PP16 retains the traditional humanitarian aid and disaster relief [HA/DR], medical, engineering and community relation projects, this year’s mission includes a Japanese ship the Shimokita and the Viet Nam People’s Navy's Khanh Hoa,” the elaborated.

In a continuation of the crisis management and response activities from PP15, PP16 personnel and those from Viet Nam's side will conduct a seven-day HA/DR workshop that culminates in a crisis management drill.

The drill includes disaster preparedness, national and regional response, coastal medicine and maritime search and rescue.

In addition, Vietnamese partners, together with the U.S. Navy and Marines, will complete renovations of Hoa Phu Primary School, Chinh Gian Medical Station, Rang Dong Kindergarten and Tuong Lai Specialised School.

A Pacific Fleet Band performed at Bach Dang Street last Saturday, and PP16 personnel will provide lifeguard training and English conversational skills to members of Da Nang's community.

“PP16 serves as a concrete example of the mutually beneficial activities President Obama discussed in his May visit to Viet Nam,” U.S. Ambassador to Viet Nam Ted Osius commented.

“PP16 builds trust and evidences the U.S. commitment to Vietnam and the region … we want to help Viet Nam succeed and we are here to stay.”

U.S.-Viet Nam relations have developed positively, meeting the interests of the two sides’ people and contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development cooperation in the region.

After Viet Nam, Pacific Partnership 16 continues onto Malaysia and Indonesia.

The first deployment of the Pacific Partnership was conceived in 2006, following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

The program is meant as a way to improve the interoperability of the region's military forces, governments, and humanitarian organizations during disaster relief operations, while providing humanitarian, medical, dental, and engineering assistance to nations of the Pacific, and strengthening relationships and security ties between the nations.

(Source: Tuoitrenews)