Latest news with #MaritimeCooperativeActivity
NDTV
19-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
India, Philippines To Hold 1st Joint Naval Drills In August: Sources
Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is all set for a state visit to India in the first week of August. While President Marcos Jr visits India between August 4-8, the navies of the two countries will hold the first ever joint bilateral maritime exercise or Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on August 3-4, according to a source. The exercise will be held in strategic waters on the West Philippines coast facing the South China Sea and close to Scarborough Shoal. Scarborough Shoal is hotly contested between the Philippines and China over both its sovereignty and resources - specifically, fish. It is located 200 kilometres off the Philippines coast and lies in its Exclusive Economic Zone. However, China asserts claim over most of the South China Sea and its resources leading to friction with the Philippines. Even though China's claim was rejected under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 2016, Beijing continues to enforce its will, leading to frequent maritime and aerial encounters with Philippine forces. In another related development, four Indian Navy ships are scheduled to make a goodwill visit to the Philippines from the 30th of July including the latest survey ship INS Sandhayak for hydrographic cooperation. So far, the highest number of Indian naval ships that have participated has been three. The last one being seeing the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, the anti-submarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan, and the fleet tanker INS Shakti, part of the Indian Navy Eastern Fleet. So far, India and Philippines have largely conducted passing exercises (PASSEX) but last week, the Indian ambassador to Philippines, Harsh Kumar Jain, had indicated that it was likely to be expanded to joint military exercises. He was quoted by the Philippine News Agency as saying, "Given the high importance of the maritime sector for both our countries, we can expand our cooperation to include joint exercises in maritime security and disaster response." Meanwhile, after the purchase of the mid-range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from India, Philippines is reported to be in talks for the purchase of Akash short range missiles. Reuters had reported that the deal would be worth more than $200 million. Another lingering defence purchase, that of ALH Maritime Reconnaissance Helicopters, by the Philippines coastguard has been in discussion since 2021. With the growing defence and maritime ties between Manila and Delhi, the bilateral relationship is expected to be elevated to the level of strategic partnership during the visit of President Marcos Jr. The President will be travelling with a high-level delegation consisting of at least 10 cabinet-level ministers including finance, defence, law and justice. President Marcos will meet Prime Minister Modi on the 5th of August, while on 7th and 8th he will be in Bangalore for business engagements. The recent thrust on upping of military ties between India and Philippines is linked to China's domineering behaviour in the Indo-Pacific. The Philippines continues to tackle China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea not only around the Scarborough Shoal but also the Second Thomas Shoal. There have been frequent clashes around the area between China and the Philippines. Meanwhile, India and China are only now seeking to improve ties after the 2020 Galwan clashes. However, India remains cautious. New Delhi has reiterated that resolving the border issue peacefully is important to build mutual trust. During External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Beijing this week, where he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, India issued a statement, stating that Jaishankar "highlighted the positive impact of peace and tranquillity in the border for the smooth development in bilateral relations."
Newsweek
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Tracks US Coast Guard Missions Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Newsweek map shows the United States conducting Coast Guard missions with allies—the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Australia and India—in waters near China since May. USCGC Stratton, a Legend-class national security cutter, was deployed to the western Pacific to strengthen maritime governance, the U.S. Coast Guard previously told Newsweek. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment via email. From left, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, USCGC Stratton commanding officer Captain Brian Krautler and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan stand before USCGC Stratton at the Puerto Princesa Port in... From left, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson, USCGC Stratton commanding officer Captain Brian Krautler and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Ronnie Gil Gavan stand before USCGC Stratton at the Puerto Princesa Port in the Philippines on May 16, 2025. More The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines Why It Matters China, which possesses both the world's largest navy and coast guard by hull count, is expanding its presence across the Indo-Pacific through the deployment of ships—asserting its influence and sovereignty claims in disputed waters challenging the U.S. and its allies. While Washington has established collective defense agreements with Manila, Seoul, Tokyo and Canberra, it has formed an informal Indo-Pacific grouping known as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, which includes Japan, Australia and India. Last September, the Quad leaders announced joint coast guard operations, bolstering their nations' maritime cooperation amid China's growing assertiveness. Beijing has accused the "exclusive club" of fueling tensions and undermining trust and cooperation in the region. What To Know The Stratton began its first mission in the Philippines with a port call in Puerto Princesa from May 16 to 19. Following the visit, the ship participated in a series of joint-exercises known as the Maritime Cooperative Activity, alongside Philippine vessels in nearby waters of the South China Sea. Several countries have overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, often leading to standoffs and clashes between their forces—particularly between the Philippines and China. The U.S. Coast Guard vessel then headed to Busan, South Korea, for a visit from May 29 to June 1, where it conducted bilateral and trilateral engagements with South Korean and Japanese counterparts, discussing "collaborative solutions" to regional maritime challenges. The next two stops on the Stratton's deployment were in Japan, with a stopover in Yokosuka from June 9 to 13, followed by a visit to Kagoshima on June 16 for the first joint operations between the U.S., Japanese, and Philippine coast guards within Japan's territorial waters. Marking a milestone in #RegionalCooperation! 🇯🇵 JCG Asanagi, 🇵🇭 @coastguardph Teresa Magbanua, & 🇺🇸 USCG Stratton launched the 1st-ever maritime SAREX in Japan. The exercise affirmed shared values, operational alignment, & collective commitment to maritime stability. 🛥️🛟 #FOIP — Ambassador of Japan in the Philippines (@AmbJPNinPH) June 20, 2025 The trilateral operations focused on search and rescue, reinforcing partnerships among the three coast guards. The Stratton departed Kagoshima four days later and continued its patrol. Following its mission in Japan, the Stratton transited south to Guam, arriving on Wednesday, according to local media outlet Pacific Daily News. This marked the California-based ship's second visit to the westernmost U.S. territory since early May. While en route to Guam, the Quad coast guards launched the Ship Observer Mission aboard the Stratton, according to the Indian Coast Guard, with two observers each from Australia, Japan and India participating as part of an exchange program, Pacific Daily News reported. What People Are Saying The U.S. Coast Guard said in a press release on June 26: "National Security Cutters routinely conduct operations throughout the Pacific, where their unmatched combination of range, speed, and ability to operate in extreme weather provides the mission flexibility necessary to conduct vital strategic missions." India's Defense Ministry announced on June 30: "The cross-embarkation mission [QUAD at Sea Ship Observer Mission] marks an unprecedented step in QUAD Coast Guard collaboration, enhancing joint readiness, operational coordination, and domain awareness in support of a Free, Open, Inclusive, and Rules-Based Indo-Pacific." What Happens Next China continues to maintain a naval and coast guard presence across the Indo-Pacific region, particularly in the contested East China Sea and South China Sea. It remains to be seen how the U.S. will support its allies in responding to these developments.
Newsweek
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Chinese Warships Shadow US Allies in Contested Waters
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Japan and the Philippines—both treaty allies of the United States—have conducted a joint naval exercise in the contested South China Sea, where they were shadowed by Chinese warships. The Chinese military confirmed that it conducted sea and air patrols in the South China Sea on Saturday, in response to the Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) organized by the U.S. allies. Why It Matters China, the Philippines, and other regional nations maintain overlapping sovereignty claims in the energy-rich South China Sea. Confrontations and clashes between the navies and coast guards of rival claimants are an ongoing problem. The Philippines, which has a mutual defense treaty with the U.S., frequently conducts drills with allies to assert its sovereignty in the South China Sea. The latest joint exercise follows Japan's ratification of an agreement allowing reciprocal military visits with the Philippines. What To Know The MCA was conducted on Saturday in South China Sea waters west of Luzon, the Philippines' main island, according to Japan's Kyodo News. The drill involved the Japanese destroyer JS Takanami and the Philippine frigate BRP Miguel Malvar. A pair of Chinese naval vessels monitored the allied warships in nearby waters, according to imagery from the Philippines' ABS-CBN News. The Chinese navy kept its distance and did not challenge the exercise, which focused on anti-submarine warfare, Kyodo News reported. LOOK: Two Chinese PLA Navy vessels were spotted around the exercise zone of the MCA just minutes after the event started. The Chinese vessels shadowed both the BRP Miguel Malvar and the Japanese destroyer JS Takanami during the maritime drills. | via @manahan_job — ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) June 14, 2025 The bilateral war game demonstrated what the Armed Forces of the Philippines described as "joint capability in a wide array of naval operations," adding that cooperation with Japan will be more responsive to the complex demands of their shared security environment. The Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry said in a statement that Tokyo and Manila are committed to upholding the rights of freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as respect for maritime rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Meanwhile, the Chinese military's Southern Theater Command, which focuses on the South China Sea, accused the Philippines of raising security risks in the region by conducting joint patrols with so-called non-regional countries—though it did not specifically mention Japan. The Chinese military command claimed that its units remain on high alert to "resolutely safeguard" the country's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea. A Philippine naval helicopter hovers above the Japanese destroyer JS Takanami during a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea on June 14, 2025. A Philippine naval helicopter hovers above the Japanese destroyer JS Takanami during a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea on June 14, 2025. Kyodo via AP Images What People Are Saying General Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said in a statement on Sunday: "This cooperative activity is more than a display of maritime capability—it is a manifestation of our enduring commitment to uphold peace, stability, and a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific." The Joint Staff of Japan's Defense Ministry said in a statement on Sunday: "The activity was conducted in a manner consistent with international law and with due regard to the freedom of navigation and the rights and interests of other states." Air Force Senior Colonel Tian Junli, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said in a statement on Sunday: "Any military activities that disrupt the South China Sea and create hotspots are all under control." What Happens Next Both the Philippines and China are expected to maintain their military presence in the South China Sea. It remains to be seen whether other U.S. allies will conduct drills in the region.
The Mainichi
14-06-2025
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Philippines, Japan conduct joint exercise in South China Sea
ABOARD THE MIGUEL MALVAR, off Philippines (Kyodo) -- The Philippines and Japan conducted a joint maritime exercise Saturday in an area of the South China Sea that the Southeast Asian country insists it has jurisdiction over, amid China's intensifying claims in the waters. The Miguel Malvar, a guided missile frigate from the Philippine Navy and the Takanami, a destroyer from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, took part in the exercise, which was held west of the town of Masinloc on the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The exercise, called the Maritime Cooperative Activity, is aimed at strengthening international cooperation to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Philippine military has said. Kyodo News and some other select members of the media from the Philippines and Japan were onboard the frigate and watched the ships conduct, among other things, an anti-submarine warfare drill that the two countries did not conduct during their first such exercise last August. The Philippines has reported repeated incursions by Chinese vessels in its exclusive economic zone, some sailing to within some 50 nautical miles of Luzon's shore earlier this year. China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated the country's claims over almost the entire South China Sea. Japan and the Philippines signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement to facilitate joint exercises and disaster relief operations last July, and aside from holding bilateral drills the two countries have also taken part in multilateral exercises involving the United States and Australia, among others.
Kyodo News
14-06-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Philippines, Japan conduct joint exercise in South China Sea
KYODO NEWS - 3 minutes ago - 18:17 | All, World, Japan The Philippines and Japan conducted a joint maritime exercise Saturday in an area of the South China Sea that the Southeast Asian country insists it has jurisdiction over, amid China's intensifying claims in the waters. The Miguel Malvar, a guided missile frigate from the Philippine Navy and the Takanami, a destroyer from Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, took part in the exercise, which was held west of the town of Masinloc on the Philippines' main island of Luzon. The exercise, called the Maritime Cooperative Activity, is aimed at strengthening international cooperation to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Philippine military has said. Kyodo News and some other select members of the media from the Philippines and Japan were onboard the frigate and watched the ships conduct, among other things, an anti-submarine warfare drill that the two countries did not conduct during their first such exercise last August. The Philippines has reported repeated incursions by Chinese vessels in its exclusive economic zone, some sailing to within some 50 nautical miles of Luzon's shore earlier this year. China rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated the country's claims over almost the entire South China Sea. Japan and the Philippines signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement to facilitate joint exercises and disaster relief operations last July, and aside from holding bilateral drills the two countries have also taken part in multilateral exercises involving the United States and Australia, among others. Related coverage: China, ASEAN, Arab states hold 1st summit to bolster economic ties ASEAN leaders meet as U.S. tariffs rattle regional economies Japan PM hails "relations of trust" with Vietnam, Philippine leaders
