Navy: ‘Like-minded’ countries welcome to join future West PH Sea patrols

MANILA, Philippines — 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.

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“The Philippine Navy welcomes all navies willing to partner with us in developing our capabilities and in promoting stability in the West Philippine Sea,” Trinidad told reporters in a text message.

Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla echoed Trinidad’s statement.

“We welcome more like-minded nations to join us in future [MCCAs],” 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’s exclusive economic zone.

“These activities serve as a resolute statement of unity reaffirming our adherence to International laws,” Padilla said of the activity.

Padilla also said, “They 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.”

However, China’s People’s Liberation Army-Navy warships with bow numbers 792 and 162 were monitored six nautical miles away from the exercise area.

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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.