Chinese ships monitor latest WPS joint exercise

With two warships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) seen observing the exercises, the United States Navy, Royal Canadian Navy and Royal Australian Navy again joined the Philippine Navy in another multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Sept. 2 and 3.

- By MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

Despite the presence of the Chinese military vessels, the combined naval drills, the 10th since April 2024, proceeded and were carried out in the waters off Palauig and San Antonio, Zambales.

The Philippine Navy's BRP Jose Rizal, supported by an AW159 helicopter, a search and rescue Sokol aircraft, and a C-208B surveillance platform, joined Australia's HMAS Brisbane and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, Canada's HMCS Ville de Quebec and CH-148 Cyclone, and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft of the US Indo-Pacific Command.