Naval forces from Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea, underscoring their ongoing commitment to regional stability and maritime security.
The exercise featured the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) vessel JS Osumi (LST-4001), operating alongside units from the Philippine Navy and the U.S. Navy. The coordinated activity is part of broader efforts to strengthen defense cooperation and uphold the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.
Officials from all three nations reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), highlighting the importance of maritime cooperation under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
The joint operation signals a continued trilateral commitment to peace, prosperity, and security in the region amid ongoing tensions and competing territorial claims in the South China Sea.
