By AFP and Focus | 2026-03-02

MANILA -- Philippine, US and Japanese forces recently conducted joint air and maritime drills over waters north of Luzon, including the approaches to the Bashi Channel that separates the Philippines from Taiwan, officials said.

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said the 15th Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) from February 20 to 26 in the West Philippine Sea built on similar training activities earlier this year and reflected the three nations' "growing depth" of maritime cooperation.

Aircraft from the three nations patrolled over the Philippines' northernmost Batanes islands in drills aimed at showcasing their "ability to operate seamlessly together in complex maritime environments," the Philippine military said.

1st joint MMCAs beyond the S. China Sea

It marked the first time that MMCAs involving the countries have expanded beyond the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have engaged in repeated clashes over disputed territory.

Little more than 100km separates the Philippines and self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

"Air operations were conducted within airspace over Philippine territory and its territorial sea, north of Luzon," the Philippine military said in a statement, adding naval vessels had stayed west of the Batanes island chain.

Armed forces spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad told AFP it was the "first time" MMCA operations had been conducted in the "said operational box."

The box was entirely within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, said Trinidad.

The Philippine military's statement described that box as extending "up to the northern tip of Luzon, particularly Mavulis Island," which hosts small Philippine navy and marine detachments.

The air patrols reached as far north as the Bashi Channel, but participating vessels remained within Philippine waters and did not enter the channel, Trinidad said.

The Philippine military listed participating Philippine assets including the naval Jose Rizal-class guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna with an embarked AW-159 helicopter, along with Philippine air force warplanes such as FA-50 fighter jets, C-208B utility aircraft and A-29 Super Tucano light-attack aircraft and a Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter.

It also said the Philippine coast guard deployed the offshore patrol vessel BRP Gabriela Silang, describing a whole-of-nation approach to protecting the country's maritime domain, according to the Philippine News Agency.

Participating units included a Japanese P-3C aircraft, the USS Dewey and a P-8A Poseidon, said the Pentagon.

The activity covered replenishment-at-sea, deck landing qualifications and communications drills, it said.

BRP Antonio Luna conducted a live-fire gunnery exercise to validate targeting accuracy and combat readiness, before concluding with a post-exercise debriefing and review immediately afterward to capture lessons for future operations, Manila said.

Anger from Beijing

China's military reacted angrily to the drills on February 27.

"The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organize the so-called joint patrols, disrupting peace and stability in the region," said Zhai Shichen, spokesman for the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command.

China conducted a "routine patrol" of the South China Sea February 23–26, he said.

Tensions between Japan and China have been elevated since November, when Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.

Beijing imposed export restrictions and warned its citizens against visiting Japan, while accusing Tokyo of attempting to "revive militarism."

Japan's defense minister upped the ante last week by saying Tokyo planned to deploy surface-to-air missiles on one of its remote western islands located near Taiwan by early 2031.

The Philippines will be dragged "kicking and screaming" into any war over Taiwan, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said last August.

"I hope it doesn't happen... But if it does, we have to plan for it already," he said, citing the large numbers of Filipinos working in Taiwan.