MANILA, Philippines — Nagsagawa ng joint naval drills sa West Philippine Sea (WPS) ang Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Japan at Estados Unidos para palakasin pa ang kapabilidad ng magkakaalyadong bansa sa pagtugon sa tumitinding agresyon sa pinagtatalunang teritoryo.
Ayon kay AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., layon ng panibagong “Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) o sama-samang paglalayag sa maritime drills sa WPS na palakasin ang interoperability ng magkakaalyadong puwersa.
“There’s a long line of countries in the past who have attempted to test U.S. resolve. We are resolved at this time, at this moment, to work with our partners, to reestablish the warrior ethos, to rebuild our military and reestablish deterrence, and come alongside our allies and partners,” giit naman ni US Defense Chief Pete Hegseth sa pagbisita sa bansa nitong Biyernes.
Gayunman, nilinaw ni Hegseth na sa kabila nito ay hindi nais ni US President Donald Trump ng giyera kundi kapayapaan.
Ginamit ng AFP contingent ang guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), AW -109 helicopter, C-90 aircraft at search and rescue assets ng Philippine Air Force (PAF).
Ang Japan ay ang multi-mission frigate JS Noshiro (FFM -3) at maritime helicopter SH-60 K.
Habang ang Estados Unidos ay ang kanilang missile destroyer DDG Shoup (DDG-86), multi-mission naval helicopter MH-60R at maritime patrol aircraft P-8A Poseidon.
“The MMCA continuously highlights the vital improvements in our coordination, tactics and shared maritime awareness,” pahayag naman ni AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.