Philippines, Malaysia to hold joint naval exercises

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines and Malaysia will hold joint naval exercises within the area under the jurisdiction of the Zamboanga-based Naval Forces Western Mindanao (Navforwest).

The four-day naval drill, codenamed MTA MALPHI LAUT 18/5, will start tomorrow and run until Aug. 28 in Zambaonga City’s Calarian district.

The training exercises will focus on maritime security and transnational crime, Navforwest public affairs officer Ensign Chester Ian Ramos said yesterday.

The annual naval drill, hosted alternately by the Philippines and Malaysia, is meant to enhance interoperability and cooperation between the two navies.

This year’s training exercise, which will kick off with a ceremony at the Western Command’s Camp Navarro, is the 19th since the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation in 1994.

The event is considered highly significant as both Malaysia and the Philippines are drawn together by China’s aggression in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.

The two countries have maritime claims in the disputed Spratly archipelago, which is being claimed entirely by Beijing as part of its territory.