In a significant display of international collaboration, the Philippines, alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia, commenced their sixth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) within the Philippine exclusive economic zone on Wednesday. General Romeo Brawner Jr., the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, emphasized that this exercise underscores a shared dedication to bolstering regional and global partnerships, aiming to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercise involves coordinated operations between naval and air forces from the participating countries, enhancing their ability to work together effectively. Although specifics about the timing, location, and the scale of the forces involved were not disclosed, it is known that this year alone has seen five previous MMCA events in April, June, August, September, and December. Brawner assured that the activities would adhere strictly to international law, prioritizing navigational safety and respecting the rights of other nations. He further highlighted the Philippines’ commitment to upholding freedoms of navigation and overflight, as well as other lawful maritime activities, in line with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, from the AFP’s public affairs office, mentioned that the exercise was set to begin on Wednesday, with participants moving towards the designated ‘exercise box’ in the West Philippine Sea, where various formations and drills would take place, potentially extending into the evening.
Philippines Leads Sixth Joint Maritime Exercise with US, Japan, Australia
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