Manila, Feb. 22 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced on Friday night that it has conducted a maritime cooperative activity (MCA) with the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle carrier strike group.

In a statement, military public affairs office chief, Col. Xerxes Trinidad, said this marks the AFP's third consecutive week of joint maritime activities in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), within the joint operational area of Northern Luzon Command.

AFP assets deployed for this MCA include the missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), offshore patrol vessel BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PS-15), a C-90 patrol aircraft, two FA-50PH light jet fighters, and Philippine Air Force search-and-rescue units.

On the French Navy side, the military ...