The multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) of the Philippines with its allies in the West Philippine Sea made a historic expansion as it reached the waters off northern Batanes.
Since it started in 2024, this is the first MMCA to operate within an exercise range near Bashi Channel—the waterway separating the Philippines from Taiwan.
GMA Integrated News was the lone local media outfit aboard the Philippine Navy’s BRP Antonio Luna to witness the conduct of the 15th MMCA, which was participated in by the Philippines, the United States, and Japan from Monday, February 23, to Thursday, February 26.
“It’s the first time MMCA has reached the Batanes area. Most of the time, we don’t go past Pangasinan…The significance of the exercise is to show how far our operational reach is in the West Philippine Sea area,” BRP Antonio Luna Commanding Officer Capt. Jennifer Monforte said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Two of the Philippines’ FA50 flew with the US’s P-8 Poseidon and Japan’s P-3 Orion for a friendly flight near Bashi Channel on Tuesday morning, February 24.
The BRP Antonio Luna and the US’s USS Dewey, meanwhile, sailed towards northern Luzon—until Basco, Batanes.
The Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Gabriela Silang also took part in the maritime drills, including the division tactics, where the participating vessels executed tactical maneuvers.
Not a provocation
Monforte said the latest conduct of the MMCA in the northern tip of Luzon should not be seen as a provocation to other countries.
“Nasa loob naman tayo ng exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas ay hindi naman maritime domain ng ibang bansa so hindi ito provocation,” he added.
(We’re inside the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines and this is not the maritime domain of any other country, so it’s not a provocation.)
Several joint exercises in the MMCA were held near Bashi Channel, which separates the Philippines from Taiwan.
China claims democratic Taiwan as part of its territory.
It also has a longstanding territorial dispute with the Philippines, among other countries, over its massive claims in the South China Sea, including waters within the Philippines’ EEZ.
The Philippines won a landmark case against China’s massive claim before an arbitration tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands, in 2016, but Beijing has repeatedly refused to recognize the ruling.
‘Illegal, not normal’ presence of Chinese vessel
Throughout the whole course of the MMCA, the illegal presence of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy ships was monitored in the Philippine seas, not too far from the ships involved in the maritime drills.
But, according to Monforte, there was no exchange of radio challenges between the Philippines and China.
“Gayunpaman, ‘yung presence nila is illegal kasi nasa loob sila ng EEZ ng Philippines at sumunod sila hanggang Batanes,” he said.
(Nevertheless, their presence is illegal because they’re inside the EEZ of the Philippines and they followed us up to Batanes.)
GMA Integrated News has sought a comment from the Chinese Embassy, but it has yet to respond as of posting time.
Enhanced interoperability
Monforte said the four-day MMCA improved the interoperability and strategic coordination of the Philippines, US, and Japan.
“It is successful if we base it on the objective of the exercise, which is enhancement of interoperability,” he noted.
Moving forward, Monforte said he hopes Japan’s involvement in multilateral maritime drills in the Philippine seas would further deepen.
“I hope next time, they’ll be sending their ship, and their P3 Orion will participate in anti-submarine warship exercises. I hope they can also extend [the exercise] on the other side, on the eastern side of the Batanes area.”
In 2024, Japan and the Philippines signed a landmark Reciprocal Access Agreement, which allowed the armed forces of both nations to conduct joint drills in each other’s territory.
Over the past few years, the Philippines has expanded maritime and defense security cooperation with its allies amid tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
