Phl, Malaysia set military drills

Philippine and Malaysian armed forces are set to hold joint military activities this year and in 2025 as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen their partnership in the face of evolving global geopolitical landscape as well as threats to regional security.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

Army spokesman Col. Louie Dema-ala announced the coming joint military activity on Wednesday at the 36th MalaysiaPhilippines Army Working Group Meeting (MALPHI AWG) at Fort Bonifacio.

The Philippine Army hosted the meeting.

Assistant chief of staff for plans Col. Benjamin Leander and the Malaysian Army's Operation and Training Branch director general Brig. Gen. Isa Bin Daud co-chaired the event.

Like the Philippines, Malaysia has claims in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely as its own.

Dema-ala said the annual working group meeting is intended to strengthen and develop friendly relations and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries, especially through medium-term bilateral activities including open discussions on subjects of mutual interest.

At the working group meeting, the two parties evaluated activities for this year and discussed proposals for 2025, Dema-ala said, without giving details.

Army Commanding General Lt. Gen.

Roy Galido said that through MALPHI AWG, the Philippine Army voiced its "desire to enhance and complement each others' military capabilities in the spirit of friendship and unwavering commitment to promote regional peace and stability within the ASEAN member states." Meanwhile, the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) of the navies of Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the US in the West Philippine Sea entered its second and final day yesterday, with participants engaging in boat transfers, anti-submarine warfare and passing exercises.