The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the US Indo-Pacific Command, the Australian Defence Force, and the Japan Self-Defence Forces successfully conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in the waters west of the Philippines on Sunday, April 7, the AFP said in a statement.
The MMCA was held within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the southern portion of the South China Sea, which Manila claims as the West Philippine Sea.
The activity involved naval vessels and aircraft from the four countries. Participating vessels include the Philippine Navy ships BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, BRP Antonio Luna, and BRP Valentin Diaz, the US Navy littoral combat ship USS Mobile, the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga, and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyer JS Akebono.
The aircraft meanwhile included US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and Philippine Navy AW109 and AW159 helicopters.
The participants performed communications exercises, division tactics or officer of the watch manoeuvres, and a photo exercise. The AFP said these activities were designed to enhance the different forces' abilities to work together effectively in maritime scenarios.
