The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday emphasized that, as a sovereign nation, the Philippines reserves the sole right to determine how it defends its territory and chooses its allies free from any foreign influence.

The AFP was responding to China’s recent claims that the Philippines was creating “disturbances” by conducting joint missions with foreign forces over the disputed West Philippine Sea.

“To be clear, the Philippines is a sovereign state. No foreign power can dictate how we defend our home or with whom we stand in solidarity,” AFP spokesperson Francel Margareth Padilla told reporters in a Viber message.

China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, has been locked in an increasingly tense standoff with the Philippines, as both nations assert their respective sovereignty claims over the disputed waters.

Padilla maintained the AFP is only exercising its mandate to protect the Philippines’ sovereign rights within its maritime domain.

“The conduct of joint exercises and maritime domain awareness operations within our territorial waters and exclusive economic zone is not a provocation — it is preparedness,” she stressed.

Padilla pointed out the country’s actions are “deliberate, lawful actions anchored on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and rooted in responsible, forward-looking defense.”

She said the Philippines’ alliances — particularly with long-time partners like the United States — are built on common principles such as respect for peace, security and international law.

“Our partnerships, especially with longstanding allies like the United States, reflect our shared values and a collective commitment to safeguard the peace, security, and the rules-based international order,” she said.

Padilla emphasized that the joint efforts enhance both the military capabilities and foster mutual trust and strategic coordination among partner nations.

“As emphasized by AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., we will assess our readiness in all domains — air, land, sea, cyber, information, and the emerging frontier of space — through comprehensive exercises that integrate tactical precision with strategic foresight,” she said.

On Wednesday, the AFP said the Philippine Air Force carried out a joint air patrol with its American counterpart over the West Philippine Sea on 28 April, reinforcing the defense cooperation between the two nations.

The PAF flew three FA-50 aircraft, while the US Air Force utilized its B-1B Bomber supplemented by two F-16 and two F-18 fighter jets.

PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said the cooperative activity aimed to strengthen collaboration and enhance interoperability between the AFP and US forces.

“With this, the PAF reinforces its commitment and operational readiness to support the AFP’s mission of safeguarding the country’s territory and sovereign rights and promote a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region,” Castillo said.