Manila, July 26 - The United States and Japan joined the Philippines in multiday maritime exercises in the South China Sea, held from July 21 to 25, the Philippine military said on Sunday. The drills brought together warships, coast guard vessels, and surveillance and fighter aircraft in coordinated operations intended to improve interoperability among the partner nations.
The exercises occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions after an encounter in disputed waters involving vessels from the Philippines and China. Manila and Beijing traded accusations following that encounter, with both sides offering sharply different accounts of what transpired.
Philippine authorities said the exercises underscored "the enduring partnership among the partner nations in promoting peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region." The military statement did not specify the exact location of the drills. It noted the participation of multiple maritime and aerial platforms in the five-day program aimed at strengthening joint operational capacity.
Chinese navy and coast guard vessels have previously operated in the area during past iterations of joint drills, the military added.
The timing of the exercises followed a separate incident a day earlier. The Philippines reported that Chinese Coast Guard personnel struck a Filipino sailor with a baton at Second Thomas Shoal. China, for its part, said Philippine vessels had attacked first and had rammed Chinese boats.
During the period of the drills, the Philippine Coast Guard reported additional encounters. It said the Chinese coast guard had used water cannon against Philippine government vessels near Scarborough Shoal on both Thursday and Friday. China responded by saying it had taken legal measures after Philippine vessels "insisted on intruding."
On Saturday, the Philippines’ newly appointed chief of staff of the armed forces, Antonio Nafarrete, visited Thitu Island, a Philippine-occupied outpost in the Spratly Islands located about 300 miles (480 km) west of the Philippine province of Palawan. Nafarrete told personnel stationed on the island they played a vital role in guarding the outpost and pledged support to strengthen their operational capabilities.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea and rejects a 2016 arbitral ruling that found against its territorial claims. The recent drills are the latest in a series of joint exercises that have expanded in scope and frequency as the Philippines, with backing from the United States and Japan, seeks to counter China’s extensive claims over the waters.