President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has approved the Philippines’ conduct of joint patrols with Australian troops in the South China Sea, AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. confirmed on Sunday.

Brawner made the confirmation during an interview with DZRH News after the successful recent joint amphibious assault drill between the two countries.

He also confirmed the previous remark made by Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles that the joint patrol of the Philippines and Australia in the controversial and disputed territory will be imposed soon.

With the joint amphibious assault exercises, Brawner said the activity will help the AFP improve its capability in training new soldiers.

"Ito yung ginagawa natin in order for us to improve our capability. Ma-train yung mga sundalo natin, especially sa mga bagong kagamitan," he said.

"Dini-develop natin ang inter-operability natin. Dahil maraming operations na kailangan kasama natin sila," he continued.

The AFP chief of staff also said that Marcos had already approved the amphibious joint patrols as part of the campaign for a rule-based movement in the Indo-Pacific region.

Brawner added that the AFP is also open to conducting joint patrols with the other countries to enforce the existing law under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

He first brought up the issue of sensitizing China with the country’s participation in Australia’s exercise a few weeks after the water cannon incident at Ayungin Shoal during AFP’s resupply mission.