Overview
- The Feb. 20–26 Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity operated within the Philippine EEZ and over the Batanes islands, marking the first extension of these trilateral drills toward the Bashi Channel.
- Philippine frigate BRP Antonio Luna and U.S. destroyer USS Dewey conducted anti-submarine operations and other serials, with Antonio Luna carrying out a live-fire gunnery event.
- Joint air patrols featured two Philippine FA-50s, a U.S. P-8A, and a Japanese P-3C, and the AFP said all air sorties remained in Philippine airspace as ships stayed west of the Batanes chain.
- Manila described the activity as part of a growing series of MMCAs that deepen cooperation, noting a separate Feb. 15–16 iteration with Australian and U.S. forces earlier in the month.
- China’s Southern Theater Command condemned the drills and announced a Feb. 23–26 routine patrol, while a Philippine Navy officer reported two Chinese navy ships near the exercise on separate days.