The Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted joint naval and air exercises with the United States and Japan in the West Philippine Sea to test combat readiness and trilateral interoperability.
The 15th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) took place from Feb. 23 to 26, covering waters north of Luzon, including Mavulis Island and the Bashi Channel.
Philippine Navy and Air Force assets, along with the Coast Guard, participated alongside US and Japanese ships and aircraft in drills such as maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, and live-fire gunnery exercises.
The exercises aimed to strengthen regional maritime security, improve operational coordination, and enhance situational awareness in a strategically sensitive area near Taiwan.
AFP officials said the MMCA highlighted sustained cooperation with partner forces and will inform future operations in the West Philippine Sea.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 28, 2026
PHILIPPINE, US, JAPANESE FORCES HOLD EXERCISES IN WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
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