The nine-day drills, happening near the coastline of Northern Luzon, a province facing Taiwan Strait, focused on anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare, were designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen security ties among regional partners.
Dubbed as “Sama Sama” or togetherness, around 1,000 sailors from Australia, Japan, France, Canada, United States and Philippines, joined the maritime sail. The United Kingdom sent observers in the exercise that seeks to boost the interoperability of the participating navies.
Commodore Edward de Sagun, commander of the Naval Forces North, told reporters their exercises are not targeted against any countries, noting they will not enter the vicinity of the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
In 2012, Beijing seized Shoal, which they call Huangyan Island, a traditional fishing ground within the 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines, after a two-month standoff with the Philippine Navy.
“This is actually a six-nation exercise. To develop skills, to develop a different logistics system, so that we could help each other…Everybody’s maritime interests are protected,” said Sagun. “We might not be going out of the territorial seas, but we will conduct it mostly in the northern part of Luzon,” he added.
The U.S. Head of Delegation, Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, Commander Logistics Western Pacific, and Task Force 73, said in a statement participants will also engage in specialized training across a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, legal operations, engineering, logistics, and public affairs.
“This exercise has evolved significantly since its inception. What began as a bilateral event between the United States and the Philippines has grown into a multilateral and multiplatform operation, bringing together like-minded partners from across the Indo-Pacific. This development highlights the strength of our alliances and our shared commitment to peace, security, and cooperation in the maritime domain and it’s never been more important.”
Rear Adm. Todd Cimicata, The U.S. Head of Delegation
In the annual drills, the US deployed their Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83), and a P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft . From other countries, the Philippines sent the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal (FF 150); BRP Waray (LC-288); BRP Nestor Reinoso (PC 380); a Force Reconnaissance Group, Naval Special Operations Unit 2 ; and supporting units that include a medical and media team.
The Royal Canadian Navy will bring the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH 331) and a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter . A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Shin Maywa US-2 amphibious aircraft and Kawasaki P-1 maritime patrol aircraft are also participating.
“Through exercises, we continue to improve our interoperability and our readiness while deepening our understanding of each other’s capabilities. This exercise reflects our enduring partnership—one built on trust, shared values, and mutual defense,” said Cimicata. “Together, we will refine our ability to respond to natural disasters, maritime threats, and humanitarian crises, while ensuring the safety and security of this vital region,” he added.
The joint sail follows the September 28 maritime exercise, where four of the partners—Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the U.S.—along with New Zealand, conducted drills within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.
“We witness the deepening of ties between the Philippine Navy and the U.S. Navy along with our partners from Australia, Canada, France, United Kingdom, and Japan” said Rear Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta, Vice Commander of the Philippine Navy. “This exercise is a powerful investment for our collective movement and an opportunity to address regional challenges together,” he added.
China has competing claims in the South China Sea with the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam. In previous months, Beijing has frequently been accused of using grey-zone tactics, such as firing water cannons and high-intensity lasers at Philippine vessels, as part of its strategy to gain control of the South China Sea. The latest was on Monday, October 7, where a Chinese Coast Guard ship harassed a Philippine ship using a water cannon while on a mission to distribute supplies to Filipino fishermen in the disputed waters.
