Manila, Jan. 27 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) conducted the 11th bilateral maritime cooperative activity (MCA) at the vicinity of Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal), West Philippine Sea last Jan. 25 and 26, the military said on Tuesday.

In a media briefing, the AFP said the two-day naval and air drills marked the start of this year's engagement between Filipino and American forces.

"This iteration highlighted the enduring AFP-U.S. alliance and reaffirmed both forces' shared commitment to strengthening maritime security, enhancing operational interoperability, and upholding a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific Region," it added.

For the 11th bilateral MCA,...