IN a first, Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States yesterday held joint maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the South China Sea.
“It is within our EEZ (exclusive economic zone) in the WPS,” said Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the military’s Public Affairs Office, referring to the multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA).
The two-day MMCA, involving naval and air force units, aims to enhance inter-operability among the forces of the four countries. It follows a maritime cooperative activity (MCA) between the Philippines and the US held on Wednesday last week, and another MCA between the Philippines and Japan in the same area two days later.
In a joint statement, Australian Chief of Defense Forces Adm. Johnston Ran, Canadian Chief of Defense Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr, and US Indo-Pacific Command commander Adm. Samuel Paparo said activity is a demonstration of their “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
It is first MMCA involving the four countries to be held in the WPS. China has become aggressive in its claims over almost the entire South China Sea area in the past years, leading to increased tension in the area. China has been harassing Philippine boats in the WPS, with the latest and most serious incident happening last June.
The Armed Forces said the Philippine Navy deployed frigate BRP Jose Rizal with an AW-159 anti-submarine helicopter and patrol ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz for the MMCA.
The US Navy sent its guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie and a Sikorsky MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
Canada deployed frigate HMCS Montreal and a Sikorsky CH-148 Cyclone helicopter while Australia featured its maritime patrol Poseidon aircraft.
The four-country MMCA that started yesterday is the third conducted in the WPS this year. The two others were held in April (involving the Philippines, the US, Japan and Australia) while the other was in June (Philippines, US, Japan and Canada).
“The activity, the first involving all four countries, was conducted in our EEZ and within the bounds of international law,” said Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad.
“It supports the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal ruling of a free and a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said, referring to the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s excessive claim in the South China Sea.
On whether the MMCA was directed at China, the Navy official said: “It is not designed against any particular country but is a collective expression of support for a rules-based international order.”
In a statement, Brawner said the MMCA is important in strengthening regional security and fostering cooperation among the countries.
“This multilateral exercise underscores the commitment of our nations to ensuring peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. By working together, we enhance our collective capabilities and demonstrate our shared dedication to maintaining a secure maritime environment,” he said.
In their statement, Ran, Carignan, Brawner and Paparo said, “The naval and air force units of participating nations will operate together enhancing cooperation and interoperability between our armed forces.”
“The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States,” they added.
They also reiterated the commitment of the four countries in upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, and respect for rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
“We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order. Our four nations reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute,” they added.
Col. Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the AFP public affairs office, said Chinese ships Jiangdao II-class corvettes Wuzhou and Qujing and Jiankai II-class corvette Huangshan shadowed yesterday’s MMCA.
Trinidad said the three corvettes “tailed the ongoing AUS-CAN-PH-US (Australia, Canada, Philippines, US) Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity.”
“Nevertheless, the safety of our personnel and the overall conduct of the MMCA remains an utmost priority,” he said/
Trinidad also said it has not monitored a Chinese military exercise conducted near the Scarborough Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, about 124 nautical miles from Zambales.
The Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command earlier said it held joint sea and air patrols in the area yesterday to test its “reconnaissance and early warning, rapid mobility, and joint strike capabilities of theatre troops.”
“Initial reports from the ground indicate no trace of Chinese military activity in the area of Bajo de Masinloc as of August 7, 2024,” Trinidad said.
“Aside from the usual illegal encroachment and presence of Chinese maritime militia vessels, we have not monitored any purported exercise or combat patrols,” added Trinidad.
China gained control of the shoal in 2012, after a standoff with Philippine government vessels.
Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels have since maintained presence at Scarborough Shoal, preventing Filipino fishermen from fishing inside the shoal’s lagoon.
Trinidad said the last military exercise they monitored to have been conducted by China was from July 31 to August 2.
“However, this exercise occurred outside the Philippine exclusive economic zone,” he said.
“The AFP, in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard and other relevant agencies, will continue to monitor the situation as part of our mandate to protect our territory, sovereignty, and sovereign rights based on international law,” he added.
