Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. speaks to the media throughout a press briefing at Western Command in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines, August 10, 2023. REUTERS
The Philippine and Indian navies have carried out their first-ever joint sail within the South China Sea, marking a brand new chapter in protection cooperation between the 2 international locations amid rising tensions within the area.
The joint sail is a part of Manila’s broader initiative, launched in late 2023, to boost “maritime cooperative activities” with like-minded nations in response to China’s expansive territorial claims within the South China Sea. Previous companions have included the United States, Japan, Australia, France, and Canada.
“We did not experience any untoward incidents, but there are still those shadowing us—as we had already expected,” stated Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr., with out explicitly naming China.
Brawner added that the thought for the joint train was conceived throughout a March assembly together with his Indian counterpart.
Participating vessels from the Indian Navy included the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, tanker INS Shakti, and corvette INS Kiltan. The Philippine facet deployed the frigates BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal.
In response, China’s Foreign Ministry reiterated its stance that maritime and territorial disputes must be resolved bilaterally, stating that “no third party should intervene.”
President Marcos’ five-day go to to India is anticipated to give attention to maritime safety, in addition to strengthening cooperation in protection, prescribed drugs, and agriculture.
The South China Sea stays one of many world’s most contested waterways, with overlapping claims by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and China, which claims practically the whole space. A 2016 worldwide tribunal ruling invalidated Beijing’s sweeping claims, however China has rejected the choice.
