MANILA – The Philippine Navy (PN) will establish exclusion zones in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) during live-fire exercises conducted with a “treaty ally,” Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said.

The drills, which began on January 21 and run until March 31, involve naval and air operations.

Trinidad explained that exclusion zones are areas around military exercises where unauthorized vessels or aircraft are prohibited to ensure safety and prevent intelligence-gathering by hostile forces. The size of each zone will depend on the specific live-fire activities and weapons used.

“These zones will prevent unauthorized entry, and their scope will depend on the activity to be conducted,” Trinidad said, noting that only modern AFP ships, aircraft, and systems will be employed for these drills.

The exercises are coordinated through official channels, including the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and the Notice to Mariners, to inform civilians of ongoing military operations. While Trinidad did not name the treaty ally, the drills historically involve the United States, under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

Earlier, China protested the exercises, but the PN emphasized that the drills are conducted well within Philippine waters, covering Bajo de Masinloc, over 600 nautical miles from mainland China. “No provision of international law supports their claim,” Trinidad said.

He added that further exercises and corresponding notices will continue in the coming months.

On the broader mission, Trinidad reaffirmed the AFP’s commitment to protecting Philippine sovereignty in the WPS. “The WPS areas under our maritime domain are clear—200, 24, and 12 nautical miles from our baselines. The AFP will keep performing its mandate with our heads held high,” he said.