The Philippines and the United States began their second reiteration of joint maritime air exercises in the West Philippine Sea on Wednesday.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the US Armed Forces' ongoing Maritime Cooperative Activity involved different exercises agreed upon by the participating forces.

Col. Xerxes Trinidad, AFP Public Affairs chief, said the MCA is seen as an "excellent platform" for both military forces to enhance their interoperability through joint exercises.

"The bilateral event will emphasize our ability to work seamlessly together, enhancing our collective capabilities and readiness to address evolving security challenges," he added.

Trinidad noted that the MCA was among the approved activities during the Mutual Defense Board-Security Engagement Board (MDB-SEB) meeting previously attended by AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and Indo-Pacific commander John Aquilino earlier this year.

"It is an umbrella term for routine goodwill activities at sea by participating forces. It is not simply a conduct of joint maritime and air patrol on a designated area but also includes different exercises agreed upon by the participating forces," he added.

The AFP's Northern Luzon Command and the Western Command participated in this year's second MCA. The military forces were set to utilize their maritime and air assets such as the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16), BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15), BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602), BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), 4 FA-50, AW-109, and AW-159 Wildcat.

While the US was supposed to use the USS Carl Vinson (CVN70) aircraft carrier, USS Princeton (CG-59) cruiser, 2 destroyers—USS Sterrett (DDG-104) and USS Kidd (DDG-100), MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawks, F-18s, and F-35s during the entire MCA.

Among the exercises that were scheduled were the arrival/departure passing exercises, standard communication checks, resupply at sea, cross-deck or personnel transfer exercises, joint patrols, gunnery exercises, Officer of the Watch (OOW) maneuvers, and fixed-wing flight operations.

"It will demonstrate our progress in defense capabilities and development as a world-class armed force, as we carry out our mandate to protect the people and the state," said Trinidad.

Asked about the MCA's relevance amid increasing WPS, Trinidad said the activity will serve as the country's "show of commitment to the rules-based international order and to promoting peace and stability" in the Indo-Pacific region.

"The PH and US are allies and we are expected to conduct these activities to test our doctrines and enhance our interoperability. It is not an activity directed at any country," he added.