Chinese ships monitor latest West Philippine Sea joint exercise

MANILA, Philippines — With two warships of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) seen observing the exercises, the United States Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Australian Navy again joined the Philippine Navy in another multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Sept. 2 and 3.

Despite the presence of the Chinese military vessels, the combined naval drills, the 10th since April 2024, proceeded and were carried out in the waters off Palauig and San Antonio, Zambales.

The Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal supported by an AW159 helicopter, a search and rescue Sokol aircraft, and a C-208B surveillance platform joined Australia’s HMAS Brisbane and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, Canada’s HMCS Ville de Quebéc and CH-148 Cyclone, and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft of the US Indo-Pacific Command.

Combined naval events carried out during the two-day MMCA included a photo exercise that captured the unity of participating navies, a vertical replenishment to test logistics and resupply operations at sea, and a personnel exchange conducted via rigid haul inflatable boat that enabled Australian and Philippine sailors to share best practices onboard.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the activity also featured a coordinated anti-submarine warfare exercise, which enhanced detection and tracking capabilities, and concluded with a passing exercise, underscoring the seamless coordination and interoperability of all participating forces.

As the MMCA was being held, Philippine Navy spokesman for the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said maritime domain awareness monitoring showed two PLAN warships, a Luyang-class guided missile destroyer and a Jiangkai-class frigate, in the general vicinity 40 nautical miles southeast of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc.

“These ships were monitored during the conduct of the 10th MMCA involving the US Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and the Philippine Navy,” he told reporters.

“They were observed following the international task group and were not conducting any surface serials or synchronized movement that would generally indicate a joint patrol contrary to publications by the Southern Theater Command,” he said.

Trinidad said such shadowing acts by China “are part of their malign influence operations to justify their illegal presence in the country’s EEZ (exclusive economic zone).”

The military said the latest MMCA, the fifth to be held this year, underscores the US, Canada’s Australia and the Philippines’ strong defense partnership and shared commitment to advancing maritime security and regional stability.

AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration in light of recent multilateral efforts.

“Just days after the successful conclusion of Exercise Alon, the 10th MMCA reaffirms our collective resolve to protect our seas and uphold a rules-based international order. We will continue to build on this foundation of trust, proving that we are indeed stronger together,” he declared.