MANILA: The Philippines and Japan conducted joint maritime exercises in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend, marking one of their first major joint activities after Japan’s Diet ratified early this month the reciprocal access agreement (RAA) between the two countries.
At about the same time, China’s military held joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea, according to Tian Junli, a spokesperson for the Southern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army-Navy.
