NZ joins WPS exercises with Phl, US, Australia, Japan

New Zealand, for the very first time since similar activities began, has joined Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States in a multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

- MICHAEL PUNONGBAYAN

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has yet to provide details of the combined naval exercises held yesterday inside the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Australia, Japan and the US have participated in earlier MMCAs in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and in the name of freedom of navigation and overflight.

AFP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the combined armed and defense forces of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the Philippines and the US are carrying out the latest maritime activity to demonstrate a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.