Philippines, Japan, US hold joint drill near Taiwan waters

The Philippines, Japan and the United States on Thursday concluded a four-day naval drill near the Bashi Channel between the Philippines and Taiwan, expanding the exercise beyond the South China Sea for the first time.

The exercise was conducted under the Philippines’ Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity framework, which has previously involved other countries as well, such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Capt. Jennifer Monforte of the Philippine Navy frigate Antonio Luna told reporters from Kyodo News and other media aboard the ship that the drill is aimed at enhancing “the interoperability of our armed forces to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

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“It should not be viewed with concern nor should it be seen by our neighbors as a provocative act,” he added, noting the “illegal presence” of two Chinese navy ships on separate days during the course of the drill.

The Philippine military said two FA-50 fighter jets of the country’s air force, a P-3C patrol plane of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and a U.S. Navy P-8A reconnaissance aircraft conducted patrols Tuesday over Batanes, a group of islands south of Taiwan that form the Philippines’ northernmost province.

On the same day, the Antonio Luna and the U.S. Navy destroyer Dewey conducted exercises including anti-submarine operations south of the Philippines’ boundary with the Bashi Channel, a critical chokepoint for international shipping and commerce in the event of a conflict between Taiwan and China.

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The Philippines has held the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity with its allies in the South China Sea, where China has been aggressively asserting its claims. Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan also have competing claims in the sea. /dl