Amid ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China, the joint exercises led China to respond with combat patrols.
Reports from AP, AFP, and Bloomberg stated that the four countries carried out two-day joint air and maritime drills in the Philippines’ EEZ.
Military leaders from the four nations, including U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Samuel Paparo, issued a joint declaration stating that the training aimed to showcase their collective commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation in support of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”
They emphasized that the participating countries uphold maritime rights under international law and support the rights to free navigation, flight, and other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace. They also explained that the naval and air forces of the participating countries would work to enhance cooperation and interoperability while operating together.
The leaders added that the exercises will be conducted under international law, with a strong emphasis on navigation safety and the rights and interests of other nations.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, Naval Inspector General, and the Navy Spokesperson, stated that the exercises are not aimed at any specific country but are a collective demonstration of support for a rules-based international order.
On the same day, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army announced that it conducted air and sea combat patrols in the Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Dao in China), an area involved in the territorial dispute, as a response.
The Southern Theater Command stated that the patrols tested their forces’ “reconnaissance, early warning, rapid maneuvering, and joint strike capabilities.” They acknowledged being aware of “military activities disrupting the South China Sea” but insisted that these activities remain “under control.”
Meanwhile, the Philippines, which is grappling with territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea, is bolstering security cooperation with Western allies, including the U.S. Last month, the Philippines signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, which facilitates mutual troop deployments and joint exercises. On the 2nd, they conducted their first joint military training with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited the Philippines last month, pledging $500 million in military funding to support the modernization of the Philippine Coast Guard.
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