India, Philippines Joint Naval Drills Irk China

Maritime Exercises Signal Growing Indo-Pacific Cooperation Amid Territorial Tensions

India and the Philippines have conducted their first-ever joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea, a significant military demonstration that has drawn the ire of China. The drills underscore deepening ties between the two Asian democracies, both of which have ongoing territorial disagreements with Beijing.

Naval Sail Enhances Partnership

The two-day exercise, which concluded Sunday, involved a joint naval sail and maneuvers. Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, General Romeo Brawner, deemed the operation a success and expressed enthusiasm for future collaborative exercises with India’s military.

“We did not experience any untoward incident but we were still shadowed. We expected that already,” Brawner stated when asked about potential Chinese responses, without offering further details.

According to the Philippine military, two Chinese navy vessels, including a guided-missile destroyer, were observed approximately 25 nautical miles from one of the participating Philippine navy frigates.

China’s Reaction and Stance

China’s Southern Theater Command announced conducting routine patrols in the South China Sea during the same period, asserting its resolve to protect national territory and maritime rights. The command criticized the Philippines for involving external nations in joint patrols, suggesting such actions disrupt regional peace and stability, without explicitly naming India.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated its position that territorial disputes should be resolved solely by the parties directly involved, rejecting any third-party intervention.

Historical Context of Disputes

This development occurs against a backdrop of long-standing regional rivalries. China and India share a contentious land border dispute in the Himalayas, which has led to past conflicts and intermittent skirmishes.

Furthermore, Beijing’s extensive claims over most of the South China Sea, a vital global trade artery, have repeatedly led to tense encounters with other claimant states, notably the Philippines and Vietnam. Other nations with claims in these waters include Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

Philippines’ Strategy for Deterrence

The Philippines has a history of conducting naval patrols in the contested waters with allies such as the United States and strategic partners including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and France. These efforts aim to promote freedom of navigation and bolster deterrence against China.

Brawner highlighted the Philippines’ need to bolster its deterrence capabilities to prevent conflict. “The way to do that is, number one, the Armed Forces of the Philippines has to be strengthened through modernization, and secondly, we need to partner with like-minded nations and that’s what we’re doing with India,” he said recently.

During a reception aboard the Indian navy tanker INS Shakti, Brawner emphasized the significance of the vessel’s port call in Manila, calling it a powerful symbol of solidarity and cooperation between two democracies in the Indo-Pacific region. He welcomed the strengthening of bilateral relations and reaffirmed a shared commitment to maritime security, regional stability, and a rules-based international order.

The diplomatic engagement between the two nations is further exemplified by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos‘ five-day state visit to India, commencing Monday. The visit includes discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior officials aimed at enhancing defense, trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, and pharmaceutical industry collaboration. The visit follows a 2023 report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies detailing increased Chinese maritime militia activity in the South China Sea, underscoring the ongoing strategic importance of such partnerships.