American and Filipino marines hold a helocast and maritime patrol exercise as part of the semi-annual Marine Aviation Support Activity (MASA) in Ternate, Cavite. photo

The Philippines and the United States on Wednesday discussed the modernization and expansion of joint exercises.

In a phone conversation, US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Charles Brown Jr. and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., discussed military modernization initiatives, Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites, and increasing the scope and capacity of joint exercises in the Philippines,” Joint Staff spokesperson Navy Captain Jereal Dorsey said in a statement.

“Additionally, Gen. Brown emphasized the importance of domain awareness in their exclusive economic zone,” he continued.

The US continues to closely partner with the Philippines and remains committed to maintaining a strong alliance “founded upon shared strategic interests and democratic values”, according to Dorsey.

The AFP had said the sixth multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) between the Philippines, Japan, Australia and the United States was successfully completed despite the presence of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy vessels.

The armed forces of the four countries conducted the MCA in the West Philippine Sea on February 5.

“PLA Navy vessels were monitored operating at a distance, but they did not interfere with the MMCA. The exercise proceeded smoothly, and we are pleased with the positive outcomes and the cooperation shown by all participants,” AFP Public Affairs Office chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, despite an international ruling in 2016 concluding this has no legal basis.

Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino called on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to come up with guidelines for the creation of a West Philippine Sea Command.

“I’m calling upon the President as the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as Secretary Gilbert Teodoro to immediately craft guidelines for the creation of a West Philippine Sea command… separate from the Western Command and the Northern Luzon Command,” he said.

“Palawan and the areas adjoining Panatag and Ayungin are under the WesCom, Bajo de Masinloc which is near Zambales is another NOLCOM. It is about time for purposes of implementing the Philippine Maritime Zones Law that we create our own, a new command which is the West Philippine Sea maritime command for maritime security,” he said.

The Senator made the suggestion when asked to comment on the Philippine Coast Guard’s radio challenge against a Chinese vessel wandering inside Philippine waters.

Tolentino said the goal of the new command is to unite the response of WesCom and NOLCOM, which he said is currently separate.

“To improve response capabilities, for both the Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard and enhance coordination between those two naval agencies including the Philippine National Police Maritime Command,” he said.

Tolentino proposed the command be headed by the admiral of the Philippine Navy.

“It will now improve our response capabilities because a dedicated command would provide focus, leadership, resources, and operational capabilities to address security challenges. Establishing a dedicated command would strengthen the AFP’s capacity to safeguard national interest, enforce sovereignty and ensure the security of our maritime domain,” the senator said.

Tolentino said the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea should be abolished upon the creation of the new command and the center operationally could be in Subic.

“There is a Task Force for the West Philippine Sea. Pero mas maganda permanency… Because ang Task Force ad hoc, temporary lang yan. It will show our resolve to really enforce our laws,” he added.