Phl holds joint drills with US, Australia, Canada

Teaming up for the first time, warships from Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the United States are now sailing the waters of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in a two-day Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) aimed at promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific.

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the respective air force assets of the four allied nations are also participating in the exercise scheduled Aug. 6 and 7 within the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

In a joint statement, Admiral David Johnston, Australian chief of Defense Force; Gen. M. A. Jennie Carignan, Canadian chief of Defense Staff; Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., AFP chief of staff and Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said the MMCA seeks to "uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea."