West Philippine Sea: US, Japan join PH patrol after last China hostility

‘OVERKILL’ The China Coast Guard (right) does it again on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, this time on the Datu Pagbuaya of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. PHOTO FROM THE NATIONAL TASK FORCE ON THE WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, United States, and Japan held a joint patrol in the West Philippine Sea, following the latest aggression of China in the disputed waters.

Manila’s routine maritime activity Friday involved the BRP Andres Bonifacio, which was joined by Washington’s reconnaissance aircraft P-8A Poseidon and  Tokyo’s Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare, according to the Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom).

“This builds upon previous MCAs (maritime cooperative activity) and our continuing operations together, which strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures,” the Indopacom said in a statement.

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Indopacom noted that such multilateral drills are conducted “in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States.”

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Friday said activities conducted during the exercise included a communications check to ensure seamless coordination, a Subject Matter Expert Exchange and pre-sail conference to align operational objectives.

“These drills emphasized collaborative defense strategies and reinforced the commitment of the participating forces to maintain regional security and stability,” the AFP said in a statement.

This comes after the China Coast Guard fired water cannon at Philippine vessels patrolling off the contested Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal on Wednesday.

In 2012, Manila and Beijing had a tense standoff over Panatag Shoal. China took over Panatag Shoal and remains in control of the lagoon today.

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The Philippines filed an arbitration case before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands, and challenged China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea, and in July 2016, the PCA recognized that the Philippines has exclusive rights over the West Philippine Sea and invalidated China’s nine-dash line.