The United States, Japan, and the Philippines conducted joint naval exercises on Friday near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea as part of a coordinated effort to strengthen their preparedness for potential crises in a region marked by rising tensions. During the maneuvers, a Chinese military vessel monitored the operations from a distance without directly interfering.
According to Philippine Navy Commander Irvin Ian Robles, a Chinese frigate attempted to approach the area where the ships and aircraft of the three nations were operating but was warned over the radio by the Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal, prompting the Chinese vessel to keep its distance. “At one point, they tried to get closer, but we challenged them again,” Robles told reporters aboard the Philippine vessel.
The exercises, called the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity, were, for the first time, opened to a small group of Manila-based media, including photographers from the Associated Press. Since last year, such joint training sessions in international waters have become a regular practice as part of efforts to strengthen regional alliances.
During the maneuvers, the Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal, the U.S. destroyer USS Shoup, and the Japanese frigate JS Noshiro sailed in formation and maintained radio communication. Helicopters from the Philippines and the United States flew overhead, while sailors from the USS Shoup traveled by speedboat to the Philippine vessel to coordinate strategies with their counterparts.
“We are here to support our allies and uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific for everyone,” U.S. Navy Lieutenant Alexander Horvath told the AP.
Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, General Romeo Brawner Jr., highlighted that these training exercises are “vital” for improving coordination, tactics, and shared maritime awareness among allied nations. “Each exercise strengthens our ability to respond to maritime security challenges and enhances our collective capability to protect our national interests,” he said in a statement.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea. However, in 2016, an international arbitration tribunal ruled against these claims, a decision that Beijing rejected and continues to challenge. In addition to China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also claim parts of this strategically significant maritime area.
Over the past two years, confrontations between the Chinese and Philippine coast guards and naval forces have escalated significantly. In response, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines have deepened their security cooperation to strengthen their deterrence capabilities against China’s growing influence in this critical trade region. This trilateral alliance took shape under the administration of Joe Biden.
On Friday, during his visit to Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Hegseth stressed the importance of reinforcing alliances like this to enhance deterrence against potential acts of Chinese aggression in the disputed waters.
Following his visit to the Philippines, Hegseth is scheduled to travel to Japan, another key U.S. ally in the region. “The three countries are sailing together in this region, sending a clear message of cooperation,” he stated. “The stronger our alliance, the better. The more security cooperation, the better… The more strategic dilemmas for our adversaries, the better.”
