West PH Sea drill: PH, US, Japan air patrols reach Bashi Channel

MANILA, Philippines — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday that joint air patrols with the United States and Japan reached as far north as the Bashi Channel, a strategic waterway separating northern Luzon from Taiwan.

The patrols took place during a weeklong maritime exercise aimed at strengthening coordination in the West Philippine Sea.

The 15th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), held Feb. 23–26, featured air and naval operations across Philippine waters north of Luzon.

AFP Public Affairs chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the at-sea phase took place within a designated operational box near Mavulis Island and west of Basco, Batanes.

He added that preparatory activities included operational synchronization on Feb. 20, a subject matter expert exchange aboard USS Dewey in Subic on Feb. 21, and final movement to the operational area on Feb. 22.

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Trinidad clarified that while air patrols reached the Bashi Channel, participating vessels remained within Philippine waters and did not enter the channel.

He added that the operational box was entirely within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, with air operations conducted over Philippine territory and its territorial sea north of Luzon.

The exercise involved naval and air assets from all three countries.

The Philippine Navy deployed BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), while the Philippine Air Force sent FA-50 fighter jets, A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft, a C-208B utility plane, and a Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter.

The Philippine Coast Guard dispatched BRP Gabriela Silang, while Japan contributed a P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft, and the United States deployed the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft.

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Drills included communications checks, maritime domain awareness, replenishment at sea, division tactics, officer-of-the-watch maneuvers, fly-bys, anti-submarine warfare training, and a photo exercise.

A live-fire gunnery exercise by BRP Antonio Luna tested targeting accuracy and combat readiness, followed by hotwash and final exercises to assess performance and capture lessons for future operations.

The AFP said this was the second MMCA this month, reflecting sustained efforts to improve interoperability and maritime domain awareness with treaty ally the United States and strategic partner Japan.

The Philippines has stepped up joint patrols and multilateral drills with like-minded partners amid ongoing tensions with China in the West Philippine Sea. /mcm