(Updated story)
The multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) conducted in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Sunday, April 7, may not be the last and more strategic partners such as Canada and United Kingdom (UK) may also join in the succeeding events.
This possibility was floated by Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Director Arsenio Andolong just as the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the United States were completing a quad sail in the WPS under the auspices of the MCA.
"Well that is, as we say, everything is possible but that will be subject to further discussions and that will have to occur at the ministerial levels, operational levels but in line with our Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept," Andolong said.
"We always welcome opportunities to work with like-minded countries to further enhance the capabilities of the [Armed Forces of the Philippines] and of course strengthen our interoperability with partner countries," he added.
During the quad sail, naval/maritime and aerial assets from the four countries performed various activities such as communications check (comms check), division tactics (divtacs), officer of the watch (oow) maneuvers, photo exercise (PHOTOEX), and Anti-Submarine Warfare Exercise (ASW EX).
Prior to the commencement of the activities, a pre-sail conference convened all participants to ensure their seamless coordination and preparation.
"In alignment with the foreign policy and defense strategy outlined by our national leadership, the Maritime Cooperation Activities (MCAs) stand as pivotal endeavors undertaken by the militaries of partnering nations," Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said.
She said the MCA, which took place within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and in full adherence to international law and established norms, "[serves] as a strategic pursuit of our national interests."
"Through these meticulously designed activities, we aim to bolster the collaborative capabilities of our forces across diverse maritime scenarios, ultimately fostering stronger partnerships and enhancing regional security," she noted.
Andolong said nothing is set in stone yet pertaining to the decision as to whether or not there would be a follow-up MCA among the four countries.
He said this will be decided by the defense ministers and policy-makers from the said nations.
"That is something that we're also considering kasi ang atin naman (because for us) we are really pursuing, leveraging our partnership with like-minded nations. Of course, we also have an ally who has always been there so the MCA is one way that we can further pursue that," Andolong said.
The quad sail on Sunday, however, was matched by China which launched its own combat patrols in the South China Sea, according to the Chinese military.
The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy said that its Southern Theater Command organized a joint naval and air strategic patrol in the South China Sea.
"All military activities disrupting the South China Sea situation and creating buzzes are under control," the PLA Southern Theater Command said in a statement.
A 'misnomer'
Andolong said the Chinese military's claim thar it conducted a combat patrol in the South China Sea was a "misnomer".
"Actually it's misnomer. They cannot conduct combat patrol over our EEZ," he said.
The defense spokesperson added that the Chinese military has been vague in their statement when they said that it contained all military activities that disrupt the South China Sea situation.
"I don't know what they are referring to. If they are referring to the MCA, I don't know how it can be [disruptive]. But we already expect that they will malign through propaganda what we are doing in this MCA," Andolong said.
China, according to Andolong, should not be threatened by the quad sail as it was not meant to antagonize the Asian superpower.
"We're just practicing what is allowed under international law, as I said it's a show of unity. If they consider it as a show of force, that is up to them. But what we're doing is something that's practiced by all civilized nations in the world," he said.
"What is important is that we are doing this in the name of our national interest in the Philippines because as I mentioned, what we're getting out of this is the enhancement of our capability and our interoperability with our partners," he concluded.