New Delhi: India and the Philippines have conducted their first-ever joint sail and naval exercises in the contested waters of the South China Sea, a region marked by growing tensions and territorial disputes. Both nations share separate maritime disputes with China, and the move signals a deepening of defence cooperation between the two Asian democracies.
The two-day exercise, which began on Sunday, included Indian Naval Ships INS Delhi, Shakti, and Kiltan, all part of India’s Eastern Fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Susheel Menon. The ships arrived in Manila on August 1 as part of the Indian Navy’s operational deployment to Southeast Asia.
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Romeo Brawner, described the exercise as a success and expressed optimism about expanding military cooperation with India through more joint manoeuvres in the future.
The bilateral drills focused on enhancing coordination in joint manoeuvres and communication protocols to improve interoperability and strengthen maritime security cooperation. These exercises are seen as an effort to promote freedom of navigation and deter unilateral actions in the region.
When asked about any Chinese response during the drill, Gen. Brawner acknowledged that their vessels were shadowed by Chinese forces but confirmed that no untoward incidents occurred—an expected development given the region’s geopolitical sensitivity.
The Philippines has previously conducted similar maritime patrols in the South China Sea with the United States, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and France to reinforce the principle of freedom of navigation and to assert their territorial claims against China’s expansive assertions in the region.
