Philippines leads multilateral maritime drill with NZ, Japan, US, Australia; China responds with drills

On Saturday, the Philippines concluded a one-day multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) involving New Zealand, Japan, the United States, and Australia in the West Philippine Sea.

The exercise, led by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, aimed to enhance interoperability among participating nations with new activities focused on operational readiness and collaborative capabilities.

New Zealand's deployment of its maritime sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa marked its first participation in such an event, adding a new dimension to regional defense cooperation.

The exercise included various drills like communication exercises, cross-deck operations, division tactics, and replenishment at sea approaches to refine operational readiness.

China announced plans for military drills in the South China Sea and patrols around Scarborough Shoal within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone following the joint naval activity.