Philippines, US, Australia Conduct Joint Patrol in South China Sea to Enhance Interoperability
The Philippines, the United States, and Australia have completed their second round of the 'Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity' (MMCA) this year in the South China Sea. The joint patrol aims to strengthen their interoperability and jointly uphold regional security against China's expansion.
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- 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 12:30
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 12:51 (20 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(CNA reporter Lin Hsing-chien, Manila, 13th) The Philippines, the United States, and Australia recently completed the second round of this year's 'Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity' (MMCA) joint patrol exercises in the South China Sea to enhance their interoperability and jointly maintain regional security.
The Philippine military stated today that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) conducted MMCA joint patrol exercises in the 'West Philippine Sea' (WPS) from the 9th to the 12th.
The 'West Philippine Sea' is the official Philippine designation for its claimed maritime areas in the South China Sea, extending 200 nautical miles west from its territorial sea baseline. Due to overlapping claims with China's assertions based on historical rights, conflicts between the two sides have been ongoing for years.
The Philippine military pointed out that this is the second round of MMCA held by the Philippines with like-minded countries this year, and the 16th round in the last three years. The latest round of MMCA highlights the 'deepening trilateral defense cooperation and shared commitment to regional security.'
For this exercise, the Philippine military deployed the offshore patrol vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman, FA-50 light fighter jets, and W-3A Sokol multi-purpose helicopters, among others. The Coast Guard also dispatched the multi-role response vessel BRP Melchora Aquino.
The United States mobilized the amphibious landing ship USS Ashland, while Australia sent the frigate HMAS Toowoomba, an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
Drills included underway replenishment, rendezvous procedures, communications, maritime domain awareness, divisional tactics and officer of the watch maneuvers, fly-bys, photo exercises, night formation sailing, and a summary exercise.
One of the highlights of the exercise was the transport of equipment for the Philippine Navy's Seabee construction brigade from Manila to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, by the U.S. ship Ashland. The Philippine military described this as a tangible demonstration of the logistical interoperability between Philippine and U.S. forces.
The Philippines began conducting 'Maritime Cooperative Activity' (MCA) joint patrols with the United States in November 2023, which expanded to the 'Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity' in April 2024, inviting like-minded countries such as Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to participate.
The Philippine military had previously revealed that although the MMCA is named an exercise, it has gradually transformed into 'part of an actual operational design' and is one of the Philippines' strategies to counter Chinese expansion in the South China Sea. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150413
(CNA reporter Lin Hsing-chien, Manila, 13th) The Philippines, the United States, and Australia recently completed the second round of this year's 'Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity' (MMCA) joint patrol exercises in the South China Sea to enhance their interoperability and jointly maintain regional security.
The Philippine military stated today that the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) conducted MMCA joint patrol exercises in the 'West Philippine Sea' (WPS) from the 9th to the 12th.
The 'West Philippine Sea' is the official Philippine designation for its claimed maritime areas in the South China Sea, extending 200 nautical miles west from its territorial sea baseline. Due to overlapping claims with China's assertions based on historical rights, conflicts between the two sides have been ongoing for years.
The Philippine military pointed out that this is the second round of MMCA held by the Philippines with like-minded countries this year, and the 16th round in the last three years. The latest round of MMCA highlights the 'deepening trilateral defense cooperation and shared commitment to regional security.'
For this exercise, the Philippine military deployed the offshore patrol vessel BRP Rajah Sulayman, FA-50 light fighter jets, and W-3A Sokol multi-purpose helicopters, among others. The Coast Guard also dispatched the multi-role response vessel BRP Melchora Aquino.
The United States mobilized the amphibious landing ship USS Ashland, while Australia sent the frigate HMAS Toowoomba, an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, and a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
Drills included underway replenishment, rendezvous procedures, communications, maritime domain awareness, divisional tactics and officer of the watch maneuvers, fly-bys, photo exercises, night formation sailing, and a summary exercise.
One of the highlights of the exercise was the transport of equipment for the Philippine Navy's Seabee construction brigade from Manila to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, by the U.S. ship Ashland. The Philippine military described this as a tangible demonstration of the logistical interoperability between Philippine and U.S. forces.
The Philippines began conducting 'Maritime Cooperative Activity' (MCA) joint patrols with the United States in November 2023, which expanded to the 'Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity' in April 2024, inviting like-minded countries such as Japan, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to participate.
The Philippine military had previously revealed that although the MMCA is named an exercise, it has gradually transformed into 'part of an actual operational design' and is one of the Philippines' strategies to counter Chinese expansion in the South China Sea. (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150413