Philippines hosts naval drills with Australia, Japan, NZ, US

Four countries joined the Philippines on Saturday, September 28, for a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in its exclusive economic zone.

The participating nations—Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines, and the United States—conducted joint naval exercises under the Northern Luzon Command's area of operations to strengthen regional cooperation towards a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Activities included coordinated maneuvers by naval and air force units from each country to enhance cooperation and interoperability between their armed forces.

The drill aimed to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight as well as respect maritime rights under international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

China's aggressive stance in asserting its claims over the South China Sea has prompted the Philippines to strengthen its security alliances and conduct joint exercises.

The United Nations Ministerial on Maritime Safety and Security also emphasized adherence to international law for maritime safety in the Asia-Pacific region.