MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States carried out joint maritime exercises for the fifth time in the South China Sea, Manila’s armed forces said yesterday, in a move that would likely irk China.
The Philippine military said in a statement it held a “maritime cooperative activity” with the US on Friday and Saturday, its first for the year and fifth overall since launching the joint activities in 2023.
Security engagements between the two allies have soared under President Marcos, who has pivoted closer to Washington, allowing the expansion of military bases that American forces can access, including facilities that face Taiwan.
The joint maritime activity included the United States’ Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, two guided missile destroyers, two helicopters and two F-18 Hornet aircraft.
The Philippine side deployed its Antonio Luna frigate, Andres Bonifacio patrol ship, two FA-50 fighter jets, as well as search and rescue assets of the air force.
The activities “reinforced bilateral maritime cooperation and interoperability,” the Philippine armed forces said.
The joint activity came at a time when the Philippines had called out China over the presence of Chinese coast guard vessels inside its maritime zone, including the 165-m (541 ft)-long ship that it describes as “the monster” for its size.
The Chinese embassy in Manila did not immediately respond for a request for comment on a weekend.
Continuing challenge
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) continues to monitor the presence of a China Coast Guard vessel within Philippine waters as it enters the second week of its presence.
According to PCG spokesman to the West Philippine Sea Commodore Jay Tarriela, the BRP Gabriela Silang (OPV-8301) has been monitoring CCG vessel 5901, which has been detected 60 to 70 nautical miles off the coast of Zambales.
During the patrol, PCG personnel issued repeated radio challenges to the Chinese vessel, emphasizing that its presence and activities in the area are unauthorized.
Tarriela stressed that while foreign-flagged vessels enjoy freedom of navigation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), this does not include conducting patrols within the exclusive economic zone of another state.
The PCG has been monitoring the movements of CCG vessel 5901 for the past two weeks and remains resolute in its efforts to counter what it describes as illegal operations in Philippine waters.
PCG Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting the country’s maritime rights, citing the Philippine Maritime Zones Act, UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award as the legal basis for asserting the country’s jurisdiction in the West Philippine Sea.
The latest incident comes amid continued tensions in the disputed waters, where Chinese vessels have frequently been reported conducting unauthorized patrols and maritime operations.
The PCG vowed to continue its monitoring efforts and ensure that unlawful actions by foreign vessels in Philippine waters do not go unchallenged. — Mark Ernest Villeza