US and Ally Patrol South China Sea in Message to Beijing

The U.S. and the Philippines carried out a fresh round of naval drills in the South China Sea Friday as the United States ally continues its territorial standoff with China.

The event capped a week that saw Beijing press its expansive maritime claims in the disputed sea. Manila says the Chinese Coast Guard shadowed one of its patrol vessels throughout its nine-day mission, with footage appearing to show the Chinese side steering unsafely into the Philippine ship’s path.

Since taking office in 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has taken a different course than his predecessor and strengthened the Philippines’ ties with the U.S., with which it shares a seven-decades-old Mutual Defense Treaty.

U.S. President Joe Biden has stressed the pact covers Philippine assets and personnel in the South China Sea, making the region a potential powder keg.

Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry with a written request for comment.

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Friday’s maritime cooperative activity (MCA), the third between the two navies, reaffirmed “both nations’ commitment to bolstering regional security and stability,” a spokesperson for the U.S.’s forward-deployed Seventh Fleet said in a press release.

The exercise saw the participation of the U.S. Navy Independence-variant littoral combat ship, the USS Gabrielle Giffords, and an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter. The Philippines contributed an offshore patrol ship, the BRP Gregorio Del Pilar, once a U.S. Coast Guard cutter, and an AW109 helicopter.

The Seventh Fleet statement said the activity “enhances combined readiness and capabilities in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

The drills took place within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the Philippine armed forces said in its press release Friday.

An EEZ gives claimant states the sole right to natural resources within the 200-nautical-mile zone, according to international maritime law. China has dismissed these and the territorial claims of other countries in the region, citing unspecified historical rights.

“The MCA has become a routine activity for both Filipino and U.S. militaries to continuously enhance interoperability through the conduct of maritime security and maritime domain awareness operations,” according to the statement.

Activities aimed at strengthening security and maritime domain awareness operations included communication exercises and photo exercises, and tactical maneuvering.

“The continuous maritime cooperative activity manifests the enduring partnership between the Philippines and the U.S. militaries. It demonstrates our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and fosters closer cooperation towards further enhancing our maritime capabilities,” the statement quoted Philippine Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. as saying.