The Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines and Australia will highlight freedom of navigation and overflight "consistent with international law, in support of a peaceful, secure and stable Indo-Pacific."?

This was jointly noted by Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australia's Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Richard Marles on Saturday.

Teodoro and Marles jointly emphasized that their respective countries support the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea or UNCLOS and reaffirmed the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award "as final and legally binding on both parties."

"Australia and the Philippines are firmly committed to a peaceful, secure, and prosperous region, where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected. The first joint patrol between the Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines demonstrates this important commitment," Marles said.

Teodoro underscored the fruitful and long-standing partnership between the Australia and Philippines.
"The Philippines welcomes bilateral activities with Australia, and other like-minded partners, that promote and maintain a rules-based international order," he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Australian Defense Force will conduct MCA from 25 to 27 November within the country's exclusive economic zones.

Among the assets to be utilized during the maritime activity are the Philippine Navy vessels BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Davao Del Sur, the Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Toowoomba, five Philippine Air Force surveillance aircraft, and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A maritime surveillance aircraft.

The Philippines has also recently concluded a similar MCA with the United States from 21 to 23 November, where AFP and US Indo-Pacific Command conducted several maritime air patrols in the vicinity of Batanes and the West Philippine Sea.

The Manila-Washington MCA is an approved activity of the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board and is within the framework of the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty.

Teodoro recently told reporters that the Philippines will be conducting more joint maritime patrols with its counterparts in the US.

He likewise underscored that the Philippines has the right to conduct legitimate maritime activities within its EEZ, including joint patrols with other nations in the WPS, as stipulated in the UNCLOS and other international laws.