Philippines, India conduct naval drill in contested China sea

The Philippines and India have conducted their first joint naval exercises in the contested waters of the South China Sea, a move likely to provoke a reaction from Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to Al Jazeera via Associated Press on August 4th.

Philippine military official Romeo Brawner Jr explained the two-day drill began on August 3rd within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. This is an area also claimed by China, fuelling longstanding maritime tensions.

Brawner told reporters that no major incidents were reported during the operation, although some ships were seen “shadowing” the drills, an apparent reference to China’s continued surveillance of the region.

India deployed several naval vessels, including the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, the corvette INS Kiltan, and the tanker INS Shakti. The Philippines participated with two warships: BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal.

The joint drill took place as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. embarked on a five-day official visit to India, where he is expected to strengthen maritime collaboration and explore broader partnerships in sectors such as defence, healthcare, and agriculture.

Brawner expressed hope for more joint operations with India in the future, calling the exercise a “powerful signal of solidarity, strength in partnership, and the energy of cooperation between two vibrant democracies in the Indo-Pacific.”

China’s Foreign Ministry responded by insisting that territorial disputes be resolved only between directly involved parties, warning against third-party interference. The Chinese military claimed it conducted “routine” patrols during the same period and accused the joint drills of disrupting regional peace.

Last week, China’s defence ministry labelled the Philippines a “troublemaker” for partnering with foreign forces, warning that China will protect its territorial claims and respond firmly to any provocations.

Adding to regional military dynamics, China recently announced plans to carry out joint sea and air military drills with Russia in August. The two nations will conduct coordinated patrols in the Pacific Ocean, signalling increased military cooperation amid rising tensions.

The South China Sea remains one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes, with around $3 trillion in annual shipborne commerce. A 2016 international tribunal ruling invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the region, but Beijing has refused to recognise the verdict.

Al Jazeera via Associated Press, Maghrebi.org