towards Adrian H. Halili, Reporting
The Philippines and the US have conducted joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday, aiming to strengthen the integration of communication areas and cooperation between regional tensions and cooperation between regional tensions.
For the pilot, the philippine navy sent brp jose rizal, three fighter jets, three a-29b Super Tucano planes, a black helicopter, and a helicopter.
“These assets demonstrated the operational readiness of the Philippines and its growing ability to integrate various forces in complex maritime situations,” AFP said.
The US conflict included the USS Rafael Peralta, helicopters and the P-8A Poseidon naval helicopter, targeting capabilities in surveillance, naval warfare and joint operations.
The exercise, held on December 9 and 10, marked the fifth year of the year and the ninth year starting from 2023 under the “Maritime Cooperation” (MCA) regime.
“This operation ensures lasting cooperation and security between the Philippines and the United States, which maintains an important role in safeguarding regional peace and ensuring open and safe maritime domains,” it said.
Both forces were killed by tactics of division, unification of the ship, low-flying aircraft and “disorder and order”.
The AFP said the enhanced operations, communications and capabilities of both warships operate seamlessly in complex maritime environments.
The joint operation reflects efforts by Manila and Washington to strengthen defense cooperation as China’s presence grows in the South China Sea, an important international shipping route rich in minerals and energy.
“The MCA provided opportunities to improve cooperation, deepen cooperation, and strengthen joint capabilities in the midst of security challenges,” it said.
Josue Raphael J. Cortez, former Dean of Deal Salle-College of St Benilde, said such exercises strengthen the Philippines’ ability to defend its maritime claims.
“Continuous exercises allow our forces to interact and learn best practices from their partners,” said in a Facebook messenger interview. He added that the training with our forces helps the Philippine forces respond effectively to the aggressive movements of other actors in the region.
Mr. Cortez also highlighted the wide-ranging benefits of driving at sea. They improve disaster response and civilian operations, which can be disrupted if military units are compromised or unprepared.
He emphasized that these exercises do not weaken Manila’s ties with Beijing. “As long as the purpose of such an exercise is widely known, and nothing is said that can be seen as arousal occurs, there will be no harm.”
Francis M. Esteban, a faculty member at the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Eastern World.
“The US can increasingly question its commitment to the world, so Manila must break away from its strategic partnership,” he said through the envoy.
The Philippines has stepped up engagement with the US and allied nations as it seeks to counter China’s expanding influence in the South China Sea.
China claims that almost all of the roads under its “nine-dash line” are covered by the special economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries.
Analysts say the exercises demonstrate Manila’s commitment to defending its maritime claims while maintaining regional stability. By training with a technologically advanced partner like the US, the Philippines aims to improve operational readiness and ensure that its forces can respond effectively to both security and humanitarian challenges.
The AFP said the ongoing maritime exercises will continue as part of a broader defense strategy, which aims to improve the Philippines’ operational capabilities along the world’s most important sea lanes.
