AFP, US, Japan conduct joint maritime drills in WPS

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) led a joint maritime exercise in the West Philippine Sea with the United States and Japan on December 6, 2024.

This fifth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) was conducted within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and aimed to promote a rules-based international order.

The exercise followed recent aggression by China Coast Guard and People's Liberation Army Navy vessels against Philippine vessels near Bajo de Masinloc.

AFP Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner emphasized the importance of cooperating with "like-minded" countries in patrolling the WPS.

The AFP deployed the BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) and a Beechcraft King Air C-90 patrol aircraft.

The US Navy participated with a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, while the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sent the Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare (DD 106).