WPS: Philippines, US, Australia joint drills test logistics capability

MANILA, Philippines — The West Philippine Sea joint operations of the Philippines with the United States and Australia this time saw drills of logistical capabilities, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Monday.

The AFP, along with the US Indo-Pacific Command (Indopacom) and the  Australian Defense Force (ADF), conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) from April 9 to 12.

During the exercise, the AFP deployed the Philippine Navy’s BRP Rajah Sulayman, along with Philippine Air Force aircraft, including FA-50 fighter jets, A-29B Super Tucano, a Cessna C-208B Caravan EX, and a Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter. The Philippine Coast Guard also deployed BRP Melchora Aquino.

The ADF deployed HMAS Toowoomba with an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and a P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, while the US Indo-Pacific Command deployed USS Ashland.

READ: West Philippine Sea updates

“Notably, this iteration of the MMCA featured the transport of four Naval Combat Engineering Brigade equipment assets which includes one payloader, one telescopic crane, and two concrete mixers from Manila Bay to Puerto Princesa City, Palawan aboard USS Ashland which is an an actual conduct of logistics interoperability between the AFP and US Indopacom,” the AFP said in a statement.

AFP also said exercise serials included replenishment at sea approach,  rendezvous procedures, communications exercise and maritime domain awareness activities.

This drill marks the second MMCA this year between Manila, Washington, and Canberra. 

It is also the 16th overall conduct of the MMCA in the West Philippine Sea since 2023.

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

Joint West Philippine Sea patrols resumed in 2023, with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. himself making this announcement that marked the reversal of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s policy.   

Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea — including most of the West Philippine Sea — but such claims have already been effectively invalidated by a 2016 international tribunal ruling stemming from a case filed by Manila. 

In 2016, Duterte ordered the halt of joint West Philippine Sea patrols of Manila and Washington as part of his Beijing’s appeasement tack.

Manila has a Visiting Forces Agreement with Washington and a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia. /dl