The Philippines conducted its 12th multilateral maritime cooperative activity in the West Philippine Sea with the United States, Australia, and New Zealand as part of broader efforts to promote rule of law in securing peace and stability in the region.
In a statement on Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said this latest exercise, which included anti-submarine warfare, reflects the four nations’ commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation, enhancing interoperability, and championing a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific.
The activities, held from Oct. 30 to 31, were joined by the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Fitzgerald, the Australian Defense Force’s HMAS Ballarat and MH-60R Seahawk, and the New Zealand Defense Force’s largest replenishment vessel, the HMNZS Aotearoa.
The AFP, meanwhile, deployed the BRP Jose Rizal along with its NH441 AW159 and C-208 surveillance aircraft, as well as its A-29B Super Tucano close air support aircraft.
“These joint engagements further reinforce the AFP’s commitment to strengthening defense partnerships geared toward enhancing the country’s maritime security posture and protecting its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea,” the AFP said.
On board the HMNZS Aotearoa on Friday, Commanding Officer Robert Welford said he sees improvements in the participating nations’ interoperability, saying this month’s iteration was “more complex” than the 2024 MMCA where the same vessel was included.
“A year ago, we did some straightforward maneuvers. This time, we were doing anti-submarine exercises — the more complicated you make your training, the easier everything becomes,” the New Zealand defense official said.
“This part of the world is extremely important to New Zealand. We’ve got our friends in this part of the world, and we’re going to operate with them…And if someone else feels that’s provocative, I would say that’s up to them,” he added.
As this developed, maritime security expert Ray Powell praised the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) the bravest coast guard in the world amid tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
“I believe, with all sincerity, that there is no braver coast guard in the world than the Philippine Coast Guard,” Powell said in an interview.
He cited the PCG’s resilience, professionalism, and courage despite frequent confrontations with Chinese coast guard vessels and maritime militia.
Powell noted that while the PCG has begun acquiring newer vessels, it still needs to expand training programs to ensure that more personnel are fully capable of operating the ships.
Based on the recent OCTA Tugon ng Masa survey, a majority of 75 percent of respondents were very satisfied with PCG’s recent performance over the past three months.
“These findings confirm that the PCG enjoys broad public approval, particularly in coastal regions where its operations are most visible. Satisfaction appears to be shaped by both regional exposure and perceived responsiveness, especially in areas affected by maritime incidents or geopolitical tensions,” OCTA said.
