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Philippines, US, Japan, Australia hold maritime drills as tension lingers in West PH Sea
The Philippines, United States, Australia, and Japan successfully concluded their first multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday, April 7, with no untoward incidents.
The exercise involved naval vessels and aircraft from the four nations sailing within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
Participating Philippine ships included the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, BRP Antonio Luna, and BRP Valentin Diaz, along with their respective helicopters.
The US Navy contributed the USS Mobile and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft, while Australia deployed the HMAS Warramunga and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
Japan was represented by the destroyer JS Akebono.
The MMCA focused on enhancing interoperability through communication exercises, division tactics, and a photo exercise.
The joint activity underscored the participating countries' commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthened regional cooperation.
The exercise will also contribute greatly to the AFP's capability development.
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The Department of National Defense (DND) stated that the joint maritime cooperative activity (MCA) between the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the United States in the West Philippine Sea should not escalate tensions with China.
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The first-ever multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea, involving the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the United States, was deemed successful by AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.
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President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hopes that Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea will be avoided following a joint maritime activity with the US, Japan, and Australia.
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The Philippines, the United States, and Japan will discuss recent Chinese aggression in the West Philippine Sea during their upcoming trilateral summit in Washington, D.C.
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President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stated that the core purpose of the trilateral summit in Washington, D.C., with the United States and Japan is to bolster security and ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
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