MANILA, Aug. 24 -- The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), held a maritime cooperative activity under Exercise Alon on Saturday in the West Philippine Sea, west southwest of El Nido, Palawan.

Participating warships included the Philippine Navy's flagship BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the Royal Australian Navy's HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41), and the Royal Canadian Navy's HMCS Ville de Quebec (FFH-332).

The exercise featured helicopter cross-deck landings, personnel transfers via MH-60 Seahawk and rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs), as well as ship-to-ship interoperability drills.

The AFP said the engagement "reflects a shared resolve to uphold a rules-based i...