With new assets in the inventory of the Navy and the Air Force, the military carried out its amphibious landing and island defense exercises in Zambales where the Scarborough Shoal sits at a shooting distance. The drills were carried out on Wednesday in the waters of San Antonio, Zambales where Scarborough Shoal, which China exercises a de facto control lies more than just 200 kilometers away. The amphibious landing and island defense, participated by land and sea-borne forces and assets, were undertaken under the continuing AJEX DAGIT-PA war games of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), its first major exercise following its continuous acquisition of assets and equipment.

Acosta, R. (2020, December 3). Military conducts war exercise near China-occupied Scarborough Shoal. Business Mirror, p. A3.