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USS Savannah (LCS 28) and JMSDF FFM-5 JS Yahagi sail in formation, underscoring joint commitment to maritime security. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), United States Armed Forces, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conduct a Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX) and Replenishment at Sea (RAS) drills off the coast of Zambales during the Multilateral Maritime Event as part of Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 on April 27, 2025.



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Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175566904008720250428-balikatan40-BaliktanaPIO4.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="USS Savannah (LCS 28) and JMSDF FFM-5 JS Yahagi sail in formation, underscoring joint commitment to maritime security. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), United States Armed Forces, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conduct a Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX) and Replenishment at Sea (RAS) drills off the coast of Zambales during the Multilateral Maritime Event as part of Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 on April 27, 2025."/>USS Savannah (LCS 28) and JMSDF FFM-5 JS Yahagi sail in formation, underscoring joint commitment to maritime security. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), United States Armed Forces, and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conduct a Photo Exercise (PHOTOEX) and Replenishment at Sea (RAS) drills off the coast of Zambales during the Multilateral Maritime Event as part of Exercise Balikatan 40-2025 on April 27, 2025.MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reported a significant increase in maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) with allies and partners.</div>Data from the AFP showed that from only two MCAs in 2023, the number surged to at least nine in 2024. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/19/afp-maintains-it-has-never-left-vicinity-of-bajo-de-masinloc-1551">AFP maintains it ‘has never left’ vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc</a></div>So far, the country has conducted ten MCAs in 2025, with several more planned before the year ends.The list of MCAs, both bilateral and multilateral, conducted in the West Philippine Sea is as follows:<div>Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA)</div>1.      Philippines – U. S. on 21-23 November 2023Philippines – BRP Jose Rizal and BRP Gregorio Del PilarU. S. – USS Gabrielle Giffords2.      Philippines – Australia on 25-27 November 2023 Philippines – BRP Gregorio del Pilar, BRP Davao Del Sur, Philippine Air Force&#x27;s A29B Super Tucano and N-22 Nomad, Philippine Navy&#x27;s BNI2A aircraftAustralia – HMAS Toowoomba, P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft3.     Philippines – U. S. on 03-04 January 2024Philippines – BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, BRP Ramon Alcaraz, and AW109U. S. – USS Carl Vinson4.     Philippines – U. S. on 09 February 2024Philippines – BRP Gregorio Del Pilar and AW109 U. S. – USS Gabrielle Giffords5.     Philippines – U. S. on 31 July 2024Philippines – BRP Ramon AlcarazU. S. – USS Mobile6.     Philippines – Japan on 02 August 2024Philippines – BRP Jose RizalJapan – JS Sazanami7.     Philippines – U. S. on 17-18 January 2025Philippines - BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17), two FA50 fighter aircraft, and Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) assetsU. S. - USS CARL VINSON Carrier Strike Group (VIN CSG), USS Princeton (CG59), USS Sterett (DDG104), an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, a V-22 Osprey helicopter, and two F-18 Hornet aircraft8.     Philippines – France on 21 February 2025Philippines - RP Jose Rizal (FF150), BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS15), C90 aircraft, two FA50s, and Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) unitsFrance - Aircraft Carrier Charles De Gaulle (R91), Fregate Europeenne Multi-Mission Destroyer Provence (D652), Force Supply Vessel Jacques Chevallier (A725), Air Defense Destroyer Forbin (D620), and Aquitaine-class frigate Alsace (D656)9.     Philippines – U. S. on 20 May 2025Philippines – RP Ramon Alcaraz (PS16), BRP Domingo Deluana (PG905), an AW109 naval helicopter, the Philippine Air Force’s Super Tucano and Sokol helicopters, and the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV 9702)U. S. – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton (WMSL 752) and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon10.   Philippines – U. S. on 04 June 2025Philippines – BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) asset and the Philippine Coast Guard’s BRP Cabra (MRRV4409)U. S. – 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment (3MLR)11.    Philippines – Japan on 14 June 2025Philippines – BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06), AW159 anti-submarine helicopter, PAF C-208 ISR aircraft, and Search and Rescue unitsJapan – JS Takanami (DDG110) and an SH-60K Seahawk helicopter12.   Philippines – India on 03-04 August 2025Philippines – BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), a Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) aircraft, and a C-208B reconnaissance aircraftIndia – INS Delhi (D61), the anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan (P30), and the fleet replenishment tanker INS Shakti (A57) with two multi-role naval helicopters<div> </div><div>Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA)</div>1.       Philippines, Australia, Japan, and US last 07 April 2024Philippines – BRP Antonio LunaAustralia – HMAS WarramungaJapan – JS AkebonoU. S. – USS Mobile2.     Philippines, U.S., Japan, and Canada last 16 June 2024Philippines – BRP Andres BonifacioU.S. – USS Ralph JohnsonJapan – JS KirisameCanada – HMCS Montreal3.     Australia, Canada, the Philippines and the United States on 07-08 August 2024Philippines – BRP Jose Rizal, BRP Ramon Alcaraz, AW 159Australia – Poseidon Aircraft P-8ACanada – HMCS Montreal. Sikorsky CH148 CycloneU. S. – USS Erie Lake, Sikorsky MH-60R Sea Hawk4.      Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Philippines, United States on September 28, 2024Philippines - BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35), one AW109 helicopterAustralia - HMAS Sydney (D48), a P-8 Poseidon aircraft, and one helicopterJapan - JS Sazanami (DD113)New Zealand - HMNZS Aotearoa (A-11)United States - USS Howard (DDG83) and two helicopters5.     Japan, Philippines, United States on 06 December 2024Philippines - BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17) and a C-90 aircraftJapan - JS Samidare (DD 106)United States - P-8AAustralia – participated during pre-sail conference only6.     Australia, Japan, Philippines, United States on 05 February 2025Philippines - BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and PAF SAR assetsAustralia – HMAS Hobart (DDG39) and P8-AJapan – JS Akizuki (DD115)United States – USS Benfold (DDG65) and P8-A7.      Philippines, Canada, and United States on February 12, 2025Philippines - BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS17), Beechcraft King Air C90 aircraft, and PAF SAR assetsCanada - HMCS Ottawa (FFH341)United States – planning, pre-sail conference and monitoring8.      Philippines, Japan, and United States on 28 March 2025Philippines - BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), AW 109 helicopter, C90 aircraft, and PAF Search and Rescue (SAR) assetsJapan -  JS Noshiro (FFM-3), SH-60K helicopterUnited States - DDG Shoup (DDG-86), MH60-R helicopter, and P-8A Poseidon9.      Philippines, Australia, and United States on 29 April 2025 Philippines - BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), AW159 anti-submarine helicopter, Beechcraft C90 surveillance aircraft, two FA-50PH fighter jets, and Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) assetsAustralia - HMAS SydneyUnited States - F-16 and F-18 fighter aircraft as well as long-range bomber aircraft<div> </div>The MCAs have led to a change in the actions of Chinese forces in the West Philippine Sea, according to a high-ranking Navy official.“For every MCA, there has been a noted change in the actions of the Chinese Coast Guard and the PLA [People’s Liberation Army] Navy,” Trinidad told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Tuesday. “There are no coercive and aggressive actions being conducted by the CCG and the PLA Navy against our ships from the Philippine Coast Guard, BFAR [Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources], Navy, and our aircraft.”“There will be more [MCAs] coming up for the remaining part of the year,” he added.Trinidad noted that China’s illegal presence and coercive actions are not dependent on proximity to the Philippine coastlines.“The illegal presence, the coercive and aggressive actions [of Chinese maritime forces] do not depend on the distance from the shoreline. They are conducted to our Philippine Navy, Philippine Air Force, BFAR, Coast Guard ships and our aircraft. So, regardless of the distance, we have experienced ICAD [illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous] activities,” he said.<div> </div><div>EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS</div>The official highlighted that the Philippines has elevated its defense ties with several countries, strengthening strategic partnerships with Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Italy.“The MCAs, the direction of the Department of National Defense is defense diplomacy and the results are there,” Trinidad said.“Other countries have been expressing or giving statements of support, and not only statements but actions—sending their ships, their troops, their aircraft to do joint activities with the Armed Forces of the Philippines. This, I can say, is the direction of the AFP under the current administration.”<div> </div><div>MCAS IN THE LUZON STRAIT?</div>Asked if the MCAs could soon extend to the Luzon Strait, Trinidad neither confirmed nor denied. Instead, the official said that defense diplomacy efforts are being scaled up.“What is on the table is the increase of our defense diplomacy efforts, which will translate to more activities on land, on sea, [in] the air,” Trinidad answered.“We are planning for everything,” he further said.In recent months, the AFP and the PCG have reported the presence of several Chinese vessels, including CCG ships, PLA Navy warships, and research vessels, near the Luzon Strait and Philippine Rise.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEOS</div><div> </div><div><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oV3LPqvW-EA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DEq-VizfDSk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </div>

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reported a significant increase in maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) with allies and partners.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has reported a significant increase in maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) with allies and partners.

AFP notes rise in maritime cooperative activities with defense partners amid tensions in West PH Sea

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AFP notes rise in maritime cooperative activities with defense partners amid tensions in West PH Sea

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 20, 2025 02:13 PM PHT

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West Philippine Sea

Armed Forces of the Philippines

maritime cooperative activity

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