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The Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a “mechanized assault to reclaim an island” simulation on one of the Philippine-held island features in the West Philippine Sea as part of the ongoing Joint Exercise Dagat-Langit Lupa (AJEX Dagit-Pa) on Wednesday, November 6.
The exercise was conducted by personnel of the Philippine Air Force and Philippine Navy on Kota Island, where navy personnel from BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) boarded rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) and landed on the beach of Kota Island, while PAF aircraft NC212i dropped essential supplies as logistical support to the troops securing the island.
The AFP said the exercise underscores its efforts to enhance its external defense capabilities and serves as a critical demonstration of its firm resolve to defend the country’s territorial integrity in the maritime areas of the West Philippine Sea.
AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo S. Brawner Jr., meanwhile, emphasized the significance of the exercise in enhancing the country’s external defense capabilities.
“This exercise marks a significant step in strengthening our national defense capabilities and ensuring that we are prepared to defend our sovereignty and sovereign rights,” Brawner said.
“Today, our forces demonstrate the unwavering commitment to protecting the West Philippine Sea and our nation’s future,” he added.
AJEX Dagit-Pa, which runs until November 15, is a unilateral military exercise conducted by the AFP in the joint area operations of the Northern Luzon Command and Western Command, specifically in the WPS.
The 8th iteration of the exercise particularly focuses on the country’s territorial defense plan Bantay Kalayaan.
The exercise involves around 3,000 personnel from the different service branches of the AFP, which, according to Brawner, aims to improve its capabilities “and prepare ourselves comprehensively to respond to external threats that might challenge our sovereignty.”
The exercise included an information warfighting exercise, which the AFP designed for strategic communications and information operations in modern defense, responding to the new methods of technological warfare.
“We need to provide the correct information not just to our countrymen but to the whole world. Fake news has become prevalent, and it could turn the tide of war. In other parts of the world with ongoing conflict, there is very strong information warfare because they want to give their own narrative to the world,” Brawner said.