The Philippine, US and Japanese militaries conducted joint exercises this week over the Bashi Channel that separates the Philippines from Taiwan, officials said.
Aircraft from the three nations patrolled over the Philippines’ northernmost Batanes islands in drills aimed at showcasing their “ability to operate seamlessly together in complex maritime environments”, the Philippine military said in a statement.
It marks the first time that so-called Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities (MMCAs) involving the countries have expanded beyond the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have engaged in clashes over disputed territory.
Little more than 100km separates the Philippines and self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as its territory.
“Air operations were conducted within airspace over Philippine territory and its territorial sea, north of Luzon,” the Philippine military said in a statement, adding naval vessels had stayed west of the Batanes island chain.
Armed forces public affairs chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said it was the “first time” MMCA operations had been conducted in the “said operational box”.
The military’s statement said that box extended “up to the northern tip of Luzon, particularly Mavulis Island”, which hosts small Philippine navy and marine detachments.
“The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organise the so-called joint patrols, disrupting peace and stability in the region,” said Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, in response to the drills.
He added that China had conducted a “routine patrol” of the South China Sea from Feb 23 to 26.
The Philippine-US-Japanese exercise took place over six days and concluded on Thursday.
It included a live-fire gunnery exercise conducted by the guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna. — AFP
