US, Japan, Philippines Hold Naval Drills in Disputed Waters

Photo : AP

In the South China Sea, the navies of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines worked together in sea drills near the Scarborough Shoal. These exercises were done to improve teamwork and prepare for any problems in the sea. While they were practicing, a Chinese military ship watched from a distance. At one point, the Chinese ship tried to come closer, but the Philippine navy warned it through radio, and it stayed away.

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Philippine Navy Commander Irvin Ian Robles was on the BRP Jose Rizal, one of the ships in the drill. He said, “They tried to move closer, but we told them to stay away, and they did.”

These drills, called the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity, have been happening since last year, but this time, some journalists were allowed to watch. A few media people, including a photographer from the Associated Press, were present.

During the exercise, three warships sailed together—the BRP Jose Rizal from the Philippines, the DDG Shoup from the U.S., and the JS Noshiro from Japan. They used radios to talk to each other while helicopters from the U.S. and the Philippines flew overhead. Some U.S. sailors also took a small boat to visit the BRP Jose Rizal and had talks with Filipino officers.

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Alexander Horvath said the purpose of the drills was to support their friends and make sure the sea remains free for everyone.

General Romeo Brawner Jr., the head of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said these drills help the three countries work better together and make their navies stronger. He said, “Each time we practice, we improve our ability to protect our country.”

The South China Sea has been a place of tension for many years. China claims almost the whole sea, even though a 2016 international court ruling said those claims are not legal. China did not accept the ruling and continues to take control of the sea. Other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, also claim parts of the sea. However, in the past two years, China’s conflicts with the Philippines have increased.

To push back against China’s growing power, the United States, Japan, and the Philippines have been working more closely. Their security teamwork has grown stronger in recent years.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Manila on the same day as the drills. He met with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Hegseth said that working together makes the three countries stronger against any threats. He said, “The more we work together, the safer we are. The more we plan, the harder it is for others to challenge us.”

After his visit to the Philippines, Hegseth will go to Japan, another close ally of the United States. As tensions remain in the South China Sea, the three nations continue to stand together to keep the region safe and stable.