United States, Japan hold joint sail in West Philippine Sea
In the Philippine Navy’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) yesterday, warships from the US military, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Philippine Navy sailed together for the fifth consecutive time this year.
There has been no announcement from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) regarding the schedule and location of the 5th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA).Since earlier this week, Japan’s JS Samidare has been docked in Manila’s Pier 15 for a pre-sail conference, it is likely one of the warships participating in the activity.
A joint MMCA between the Japanese, Philippine and U.S. armed forces will take place today, Dec. 6, within the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said.Specifically, it aims to enhance interoperability among participants while respecting international law and the rights and interests of other nations.
A pre-sail conference was held on Wednesday aboard the Samidare by the AFP, Australia, Japan, and the US.Maritime defense experts from participating nations exchanged best practices and operational insights during the conference, he said.
According to Trinidad, this includes aligning tactics, techniques, and procedures to address Indo-Pacific security challenges.A first MMCA between the Philippine Navy and Japan, the US, and Australia took place in the West Philippine Sea last July.
Even though there are problems between the country and China in the area, the AFP has repeatedly said the combined maritime sails and exercises are not directed at any particular country.
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Military officials maintain that MMCAs are interoperability exercises conducted in Philippine territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.This year, Canada and New Zealand also participated in the 3rd and 4th iterations of the MMCA, which the AFP, along with other participating foreign navies, stressed were intended to protect maritime rights under international law, including the freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace.
Nurturing ties
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to “nurturing and strengthening ties with the Philippines” in the face of volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) conditions.
According to US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson, “To deal with the volatility in the world today, we need strong, stable relationships.”
According to her, the US and Philippines are “steadfast friends, partners in prosperity, and ironclad allies,” and such a relationship will become increasingly important as we face the pressures of a VUCA world.
“In order to maintain the momentum we have generated over the past few years and foster greater stability in this region and around the world, we must continue to work together,” she said.
In his remarks, Carlson acknowledged that the phrase VUCA “certainly describes the world we live in – including here in Southeast Asia, where state actors continue to undermine international norms and rules, violent extremism continues to threaten, and climate change continues to have unpredictable and increasingly damaging effects.”
As a diplomat, she has seen some turbulent times in her 39 years as a diplomat, so her perspective is diplomatic, national security-focused.
Keeping stable relationships – like the US-Philippine relationship – is the best way to deal with turbulence, Carlson said.
A free and open Indo-Pacific region has been maintained since 1951 thanks to the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, which was further reinforced by the bilateral Visiting Forces Agreement and Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement.
Today, our forces work together during complex exercises like Balikatan to increase interoperability. Disasters have also brought them together. Our forces collaborated with the Philippine Office of Civil Defense and USAID to bring desperately needed relief supplies to communities after seven major storms hit the Philippines this year.
Conclusion
The collaboration between the Philippine Navy, the US, and Japan in joint maritime activities showcases a commitment to regional security and international cooperation. These exercises strengthen interoperability, promote maritime rights, and ensure adherence to global norms amid evolving challenges.
