The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) kicked off a unilateral joint exercise among its major branches on November 4, preparing troops to respond collectively to external threats that may jeopardize the country’s sovereignty.

The AFP’s Joint Exercise Dagat-Langit-Lupa (sea, sky, and land), also known as AJEX DAGIT-PA, runs from November 4 to 15, involving 3,000 troops from the army, navy, air force, and special operations forces. These exercises occur in areas under the Western Command and Northern Luzon Command, which include strategic zones near the West Philippine Sea and Taiwan, where China has recently intensified its military activities as its power grows.

The AFP initiated this exercise to enhance its readiness and operational coordination, making Philippine forces “readily deployable and capable” of jointly addressing security challenges across a wide range of operations.

According to AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr, the Philippine forces stand ready to face real-world challenges head-on to defend the nation’s interests, particularly those assigned to the West Philippine Sea. 

“Our mission today is very clear: to prepare ourselves comprehensively to respond to any external threats that might challenge our sovereignty,” Brawner said during his speech at the exercise’s opening ceremony on November 4.

“In this exercise, we strengthen our commitment to fortifying our nation’s defenses and enhancing our operational capabilities,” he added. Brawner also noted that the AFP plans to introduce a new campaign strategy next year that consolidates both internal and external defense measures.

“Eventually, everybody will be involved in territorial defense wherever you are in the country while we sustain the gains that we have achieved in our internal security operations,” he said.

In addition to AFP units, contingents from the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will participate, continuing their role in the exercises from previous years. The AFP also aims to include reservists, whom Brawner described as integral to the exercises as “force multipliers.”

“It’s very important that as early as now, we rehearse their involvement,” he said, emphasizing that in the event of a security incident, the military would “rely on our reservists.”

Brawner highlighted collaboration with civilian agencies, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, along with the PCG and PNP. 

“In case of war, the PCG and PNP will join us to defend the country. We will also work together with other agencies when war arises,” he said.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

Joint Exercise Dagat-Langit-Lupa’s opening ceremony on November 4.

China monitors

According to Major General Marvin Licudine, AJEX DAGIT-PA’s exercise director, observers expect China to monitor the drills closely, especially as some exercises will take place in the contested waters of the West Philippine Sea near Palawan.

He noted that the AFP’s planners anticipated potential contingencies. “We have done the contingencies in the planning and, of course, we expect that our Chinese counterparts will monitor us and possibly take some actions, but our planners have prepared for contingencies in the process,” Licudine told reporters.

Meanwhile, AJEX DAGIT-PA’s executive agent Colonel Michael Logico said: “China will respond the same way they’ve always responded. They have a front seat to the exercise. They are going to watch, and we don’t mind.”

Logico explained that while China may closely watch the exercises, the drills do not target any specific nation. “This is not aimed at anybody. This is purposely conducted to improve our combat readiness and to guarantee that our joint forces are fully competent and proficient to carry out their mandate.”

Licudine mentioned that AJEX DAGIT-PA 08-2024 serves as preparation for the upcoming Philippines-United States Exercise Balikatan-40 in 2025. 

“It will be a full battle test for the AFP, and we have to train our people, prepare them, and have that kind of operationalization and integration between the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force so that it would be seamless and that we would be cohesive in the process of our execution,” he said.

Countering disinformation

This year’s exercise includes “information warfighting” activities alongside traditional drills, responding to the increased importance of strategic communications in modern defense operations.

The AFP aims to hone its strategic communications and counter disinformation — an aspect Brawner believes could be critical in conflict.

Brawner addressed the role of information warfare, noting: “We know that even when we are being rammed by Chinese Coast Guard vessels and militia, the news often portrays it as if we are the aggressors… it’s fake news. We have to counter that, and we have to rehearse that in times of war.”

Brawner emphasized the necessity for a unified national response to any threat, calling on “the entire Filipino people” to prepare. His remarks came amid heightened tensions, as Taiwan reported an uptick in Chinese military activities around the island.

“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 a very strong information warfare because they want to give their own narrative to the world,” Brawner said.

“It’s the same with what’s happening in the South China Sea or West Philippine Sea. We all know we are being bullied by the Chinese coast guard and Chinese militia, but in their own narrative, it’s the other way around. It’s fake news, so we have to counter that, and we have to rehearse that in times of war,” he added.

The AJEX DAGIT-PA drills will include various field exercises and live-fire training. Key drills scheduled in the West Philippine Sea include island seizure operations, amphibious counter-landing exercises, and air defense training. These activities will also involve joint intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and maritime security efforts.

The military exercises unfold as tensions in the South China Sea grow, extending beyond maritime disputes to air confrontations. This became evident in August when a Chinese fighter jet reportedly fired flares at a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources aircraft during patrols, highlighting the intensifying security landscape.

China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea continue to encroach on the Philippines’ sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea, emphasizing the need for a robust and cohesive national defense response.

All photos credit: Armed Forces of the Philippines

Top photo: Participants of Joint Exercise Dagat-Langit-Lupa.