US, Japan, Australia to join PH in patrolling West Philippine Sea

LATEST SIGHTING The China Coast Guard “Monster” ship on January 5, 2025, was last spotted some 157 kilometers (85 nautical miles) from Zambales province in the West Philippine Sea, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) which took this photo before sunset from one of its vessels, the BRP Cabra. —PHOTO FROM PCG

MANILA, Philippines — The West Philippine Sea will see a regular joint patrol by the Philippines on Wednesday along with the United States, Australia and Japan, few days after the presence of China Coast Guard’s (CCG) “monster ship” inside the western section of the country’s exclusive economic zone.

These four countries will conduct its sixth multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA).

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. said the MMCA will involve the “naval and air force units” of the said countries, without mentioning particular assets as of posting.

“The activity will be conducted in a manner consistent with international law and due regard for the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states,” Brawner said in a statement.

This comes as the CCG ship with hull number 5109 continues was recently spotted relatively near Zambales.

READ: PCG drives China ‘monster ship’ farther away from Zambales coast

This “monster ship” is believed to be the largest armed coast guard cutter in the world.

It is 165 meters long and 22 meters wide — about 65 meter longer than an average football field — weighing 12,000 tons.

Beijing’s actions are based on its assertion of sovereignty in almost the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, or the western section of the country’s EEZ.

In 2012, Manila and Beijing had a tense standoff over Panatag Shoal, with the former withdrawing its ships from the shoal that led to the latter having an effective control of its lagoon to date.

A year later, Manila lodged an arbitration case against Beijing after this standoff which led to a historic 2016 arbitral award that effectively rejected the latter’s sweeping claims in the West Philippine Sea.