For the second time in a week, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) conducted yet another multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Phillipine Sea (WPS) with other allied countries and “like-minded” nations on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the MMCA, the seventh iteration since launched last year, involved naval and air force units from Canada, which the AFP is working with to finalize a visiting forces agreement this year, and the United States. Together, the combined defense and armed forces sailed in and flew over the joint operational area of the Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom).
According to Brawner, the MMCA sought to enhance cooperation and interoperability among the participating armed forces and demonstrate a “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
“This underscores our shared commitments to upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the military chief said.
He further noted that the activity was conducted in a manner consistent with international law and with due regard for the safety of navigation, and the rights and interests of other states.
Manila’s claims in the WPS overlap with China’s, which insists that almost the entire South China Sea is part of its internal waters. A 2016 arbitral ruling invalidated China’s claims, saying it had no basis, but Beijing ignored the decision and continued to assert its claims.
Brawner said there were some "glitches" during the MMCA although he did not elaborate.
"There were a few glitches but I think we will still be achieving our objectives, and we are looking forward to having more of this with other countries such as Italy, United Kingdom, and France. Before, we have no joint sails with these countries but slowly, other nations like those from Europe are getting interested. This is a good sign because it means we share interests and we have common objectives," he noted.
Last Feb. 5, the AFP teamed up with its counterparts from the United States, Australia, and Japan for the sixth MMCA. Several Chinese warships were monitored during the activity but they did not interfere with the MMCA.
PH, US to expand exercises
Meanwhile, the AFP is planning to expand its military exercises with the US armed forces.
This, after Brawner spoke over the phone with his US counterpart, Gen. CQ Brown Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
A readout from the US Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the two military chiefs discussed military modernization initiatives, Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, and increasing the scope and capacity of joint exercises in the Philippines.
During their discussion, Brown emphasized the importance of domain awareness in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
In an interview Wednesday, Brawner said he exchanged ideas with Brown on how they can move forward in making sure that they promote a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
"For instance, in our Balikatan Exercises this year, I told him that we are going to have a full battle test. He committed to continuing the support of the US armed forces to the Philippine armed forces despite the fact that President [Donald] Trump gave an order to suspend some of the support that they are giving to other nations," he said.
"In the past, we have individual activities that were not really connected to each other. This time, when we talk about a full battle test, these are all integrated together - the command and control exercise, the field training exercises, the cyber exercises are all interconnected," he added.
Brawner said the Balikatan exercises will proceed as scheduled this year despite the conduct of the midterm elections in May.
On the AFP's modernization, the AFP chief bared that among their target acquisitions are submarines.
"There are no specifics yet but we are considering that we will have submarines in our inventory in the future because we are an archipelago. We need really all types of assets that could protect the archipelago and submarines are one of them," Brawner said.
On the EDCA sites, Brawner said his conversation with Brown did not include the possible establishment of additional locations. Currently, there are nine EDCA sites in the country.
"What we talked about is the continuation of the projects in the EDCA sites. Like what I said before, although there was an order from President Trump to stop overseas support, my counterpart, General CQ Brown, said they will continue supporting the AFP," he noted.