Philippines, Japan conduct maritime cooperative activity in South China Sea

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) recently conducted a bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.

The AFP said the activity is the second bilateral MCA that it conducted with the JMSDF and was held over the weekend off the provinces of Zambales and Occidental Mindoro.

Participating assets provided by the AFP include the Philippine Navy's newest guided-missile corvette, BRP Miguel Malvar, a navy AW159 Wildcat anti-submarine helicopter, and a Philippine Air Force C-208 surveillance aircraft. The JMSDF meanwhile deployed the guided-missile destroyer JS Takanami and an SH-60K Seahawk helicopter.

One of the exercises conducted during the MCA was an anti-submarine warfare exercise.

Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla, AFP Spokesperson, told local media that the MCA was conducted as part of a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) on enhanced defence cooperation between the Philippines and Japan.

Padilla explained that the RAA provides a framework for ensuring improved interoperability between the AFP and the Japan Self-Defence Forces in areas that include training and cooperation in humanitarian response.