PH, Japan, US, Canada hold multilateral maritime activity in WPS

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, along with its key allies the United States, Japan, and Canada on Sunday conducted a joint patrol in the West Philippine Sea.

This is the second time a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) occurred this year.

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“On 16 June 2024, Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s JS KIRISAME, together with counterparts from the Philippine Navy, U.S. Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy, affirmed their commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific during the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the South China Sea,” the Japanese embassy in Manila said in a statement on Monday.

Welcome the multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity among 🇯🇵🇵🇭🇺🇸🇨🇦, the second time Japan has participated. JS KIRISAME’s participation attests to Japan’s commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP). 🚢 pic.twitter.com/zg8mUEn3y7

— Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) June 17, 2024

No further details were available as of Monday.

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Last April, Manila, along with Washington, Tokyo, and Canberra also conducted an MMCA.