The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) once again sailed in and flew over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) with its counterparts from the United States, Australia, and Japan for the sixth iteration of the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
AFP Chief, General Romeo Brawner Jr. said combined armed and defense forces from the four countries demonstrated a “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific” region.
“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 [United Nations] Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” he said of the multilateral activity.
According to the AFP chief, naval and air force units of the participating nations operated together to enhance cooperation and interoperability among their armed forces.
He said 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.
It has only been two weeks since the AFP and the US successfully conducted their fifth MCA. On Jan. 17 to 18, the AFP completed a joint sail in the WPS with the US Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom).
The latest MMCA also followed an aerial exercise held by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) with the US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) in the WPS on Tuesday, which saw Filipino pilots aboard FA-50 multi-role fighter jets integrating their operations with American pilots aboard B-1 bomber aircraft.
The AFP has increased its military engagements with allies and friendly nations amid China’s incursion in the WPS.
Since Jan. 4, China Coast Guard (CCG) has maintained a deployment of its vessels off the coast of Zambales, worrying local fisherfolk. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has sent its ships to block the Chinese vessels from getting closer to the shore.
Two CCG ships were also detected by the PCG off the coast of Bolinao, Pangasinan on Feb. 2, which moved northward to Luna, La Union. The vessels left the country's waters the following day.
Three Chinese navy ships were also detected by the AFP in the WPS on Feb. 1, which exited Basilan Channel down south on Feb. 4.