Manila, Feb. 6 -- Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Thursday said the successful conduct of the sixth multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) highlights the country's strong defense ties with Australia, Japan, and the United States.

"This activity demonstrates the strong cooperation and interoperability among our nations' armed forces. Conducted in accordance with international law, the MMCA ensures safe navigation while respecting the rights and interests of all states," he said in a statement.

Brawner also said the MMCA reflects the shared commitment of the nations involved to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and international air...