Trilateral Sulu Sea air patrols are launched
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines launched Trilateral Air Patrols (TAP) covering the Sulu Sea on 12 October at Subang Air Base in a ceremony witnessed by the three countries’ defence ministers and armed forces chiefs.
TAP is part of the Trilateral Cooperative Arrangement to ensure security and curb activities by terrorists, militants and armed groups operating in and transiting through the Sulu Sea and surrounding areas.
The first stage of the initiative, Trilateral Maritime Patrols, was launched in June.
The TAP will begin in November and is split into two concurrent parts. First is joint air patrols with
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