WPS joint sail gets underway
THE combined defense forces of the Philippines, Australia, Japan and the United States on Wednesday sailed again in the West Philippine Sea, a day after US bombers and Philippine jet fighters held a one-day fly-by over the country's archipelagic waters. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) provided no details of the progressing Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in an unspecified location in the WPS. The MMCA, the sixth since last year and the second in 2025, the participating states say, demonstrates a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Naval and air contingents from the four allied nations navigated the Philippines' exclusive economic zone as they operated together to enhance cooperation and interoperability. "The activity will be 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," AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said. The MMCA comes as Chinese vessels — including People's Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard ships — continue to operate in the waters of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and Basilan. Trinidad said the joint sale underscores the allies' shared commitment 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)," Trinidad said.
Tomas Kauer - Moderator 
THE combined defense forces of the Philippines, Australia, Japan and the United States on Wednesday sailed again in the West Philippine Sea, a day after US bombers and Philippine jet fighters held a one-day fly-by over the country's archipelagic waters.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) provided no details of the progressing Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in an unspecified location in the WPS.
The MMCA, the sixth since last year and the second in 2025, the participating states say, demonstrates a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Naval and air contingents from the four allied nations navigated the Philippines' exclusive economic zone as they operated together to enhance cooperation and interoperability.
"The activity will be 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," AFP public affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.
The MMCA comes as Chinese vessels — including People's Liberation Army Navy and China Coast Guard ships — continue to operate in the waters of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) and Basilan.
Trinidad said the joint sale underscores the allies' shared commitment 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)," Trinidad said.
