Latest news with #PhilippineMilitary
Malay Mail
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Philippines, US coast guards join military drills in South China Sea
MANILA, May 21 — The Philippine and US coast guards participated for the first time in joint military drills, Manila's armed forces said today, joining broader exercises held by the two allies in the South China Sea. Beijing claims almost the entire disputed waterway, through which more than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes, despite an international ruling that its assertion has no merit. The 'maritime cooperative activity' was held yesterday in waters off Palawan and Occidental Mindoro in the western Philippines. The two countries' coast guards have held joint exercises before, but never as part of combined military drills which Manila's armed forces said reflected a 'growing whole-of-nation approach to maritime cooperation'. The Philippine coast guard deployed its 97m ship BRP Melchora Aquino and 44m ship BRP Malapascua while the US coast guard used the cutter Stratton, the Philippine military said in the statement. The coast guard vessels joined Philippine navy and air force assets and US navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft in a series of exercises including communication checks, search and rescue and division tactics. 'As the Philippines continues to navigate evolving maritime challenges, joint activities like the MCA reaffirm the (Philippine military's) commitment to modernising its capabilities and strengthening defence partnerships to secure our national and regional maritime interests,' Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said. China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment. — AFP
Bloomberg
21-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
US, Philippine Coast Guards Join Navy Drills Amid China Tensions
The US and the Philippines held a new round of joint sails within Manila's exclusive economic zone, with their coast guards participating for the first time, amid continuing tensions in the disputed South China Sea. The sixth maritime cooperative activity was conducted on Tuesday in the waters of Occidental Mindoro and Palawan that's facing the resource-rich waterway, the Philippine military said in a statement on Wednesday.
NHK
08-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Manila, Beijing swap accusations over South China Sea incident
The Philippines says Chinese naval ships have conducted what it calls "aggressive and unsafe" movements in disputed waters in the South China Sea. Beijing has rejected the claim. The Philippine military says the incident occurred earlier this week when its patrol ship encountered two Chinese frigates near the Scarborough Shoal. Philippine military video footage shows one of the Chinese vessels sailing alongside the patrol ship while the other crossed in front of its path. The military describes the measure as threatening and provocative, saying it could have resulted in a misunderstanding that increased tensions and impacted regional stability. A spokesperson for China's Southern Theater Command has dismissed the claim, saying the shoal is China's inherent territory. He says the Philippine vessel was attempting to intrude into Chinese territorial waters. He called on the Philippines to immediately stop its "infringement, provocation and distortion of the truth." Manila and Beijing have been locked in a long-standing dispute over the Scarborough Shoal. But it is unusual for warships from both countries to confront each other. The shoal lies within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, but China effectively controls it. Last year, Beijing unilaterally announced baselines in what was seen as an attempt to consolidate its control over the area.
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Manila, Beijing trade accusations on South China Sea confrontation
China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea. (Reuters pic) MANILA : Manila and Beijing gave conflicting versions today of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest incident in a longstanding dispute between the neighbours. A Philippine navy patrol near the disputed Scarborough Shoal encountered 'aggressive and unsafe' movements by two Chinese navy vessels earlier this week, the Philippine military said. China's military, meanwhile, accused the Philippine frigate of 'attempting to invade' the waters around the feature and said that it had organised naval and air forces to track and expel the vessel, in a statement released by its southern theatre command. The Scarborough Shoal, named for a British ship grounded on the atoll nearly three centuries ago, is one of Asia's most contested maritime features and a flashpoint for diplomatic flare-ups over sovereignty and fishing rights. 'Such threatening and provocative conduct can lead to misunderstanding that may escalate tensions and impact regional stability,' the armed forces of the Philippines said in a statement. China claims sovereignty over nearly all the South China Sea, including areas claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. '(Scarborough Shoal) is China's inherent territory. We urge the Philippine side to immediately cease its infringement, provocation and distorted speculation,' Tian Junli, a spokesman for China's southern theatre said. 'Theatre troops are on high alert at all times, resolutely defending national sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and resolutely maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea region,' Tian added.
