MANILA, April 9 -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said the successful multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) of naval forces of the Philippines, United States, Japan and Australia is part of Manila's ongoing defensive posture shift to protect its territories, particularly its exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

"The Philippines is changing its defense paradigms, strengthening its own capabilities, and leveraging alliances with allies and like-minded nations," Teodoro said in a statement issued Monday night.

The DND chief said this would enable the Philippines to both secure its territory and its rights under international law and become an effective partner of other countries in "ensuring freed...