The navies of the Philippines and the United States sailed together in the West Philippine Sea off Palawan province on Monday, resuming an activity put on hold during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte who sought warmer ties with China. The Philippine Navy’s guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150) and US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) conducted a “bilateral sail” west of Palawan as part of a “robust maritime cooperation,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a statement. The two warships under the AFP Western Command and the US Navy 7th Fleet carried out division tactics exercises, which involved steaming together in different formations, communication exercises and various maneuvers, the AFP said.

Mangosing, F. (2023, September 5). PH, US start 'bilateral sail' in West Philippine Sea. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A4.