MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Philippine Navy has welcomed other countries who are willing to participate in future joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea.
Commodore Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, made this remark on Wednesday as he said there would be an increase in navy-to-navy engagements after the multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCCA) over the weekend.
搁贰础顿:听PH Navy on 蜜桃工作室 drills: Expect increase in navy-to-navy sea engagements
鈥淭he Philippine Navy welcomes all navies willing to partner with us in developing our capabilities and in promoting stability in the West Philippine Sea,鈥� Trinidad told reporters in a text message.
Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla echoed Trinidad鈥檚 statement.
鈥淲e welcome more like-minded nations to join us in future [MCCAs],鈥� Padilla also told reporters in another text message.
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The Philippines, the United States, and Australia recently conducted their first-ever joint maritime exercises in the western section of the country鈥檚 exclusive economic zone.
鈥淭hese activities serve as a resolute statement of unity reaffirming our adherence to International laws,鈥� Padilla said of the activity.
Padilla also said, 鈥淭hey embody the practical manifestation of our partnerships and collaboration with like-minded nations, showing our collective resolve to ensure stability and security in the region.鈥�
However, China鈥檚 People鈥檚 Liberation Army-Navy warships with bow numbers 792 and 162 were monitored six nautical miles away from the exercise area.
搁贰础顿:听DND: 2 Chinese ships tailed Sunday鈥檚 multilateral patrol in West PH Sea
Beijing asserts sovereignty in the entire South China Sea, including most of the West Philippine Sea, even if such a claim has been effectively invalidated by a July 2016 international tribunal ruling that stemmed from a case filed by Manila in 2013.