The Philippines, along with defense forces from Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the United States, conducted joint maritime exercises within Philippine territorial waters on Saturday, according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Romeo Brawner Jr.
This Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity, held within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, aims to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. “Naval and air force units will operate together to enhance cooperation and interoperability between our armed forces,” Brawner said in a statement. He emphasized that the exercises comply with international law and respect navigation safety and other nations’ rights.
These drills come amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, as China continues to assert its extensive claims over the region. On the same day, China’s Southern Theater Command conducted air and sea patrols near Scarborough Shoal, a disputed area between China and the Philippines.
Brawner underscored that the joint drills highlight the nations’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation and international maritime law, particularly under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The exercise is not directly tied to recent Chinese activities but reinforces cooperation among Indo-Pacific allies.
The announcement followed the successful resupply mission of the BRP Sierra Madre at Ayungin Shoal, which saw no interference from Chinese vessels, a marked contrast to recent confrontations in other contested areas of the West Philippine Sea. Despite ongoing tensions, the Philippines continues to assert its maritime rights, backed by a 2016 Hague ruling in its favor, which China has refused to recognize.