MANILA, Jan 27 - Philippine and U.S. military forces carried out a joint sail this week at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, the Philippine armed forces said on Tuesday. The operation was presented as a cooperative exercise to increase interoperability between the two treaty allies.
According to the Philippine armed forces, the activity took place within waters that fall inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, an area that China also asserts as part of its territory. The exercise was recorded as the 11th "maritime cooperative activity" involving the United States and the Philippines since November 2023.
In an official statement, the Philippine armed forces said: "The successful conduct of these activities enhanced coordination, tactical proficiency, and mutual understanding between allied forces."
The joint sail included the Philippine Navy frigate Antonio Luna and a Philippine Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel, supported by two military aircraft and a helicopter from Philippine forces. On the U.S. side, Indo-Pacific Command deployed the USS John Finn, an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, together with an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter.
Military engagements between the two treaty partners have increased under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has moved his country closer to Washington, the armed forces noted, citing China’s expanding presence in the South China Sea as a motivating factor for the closer cooperation.
The statement reiterated that China claims sovereignty over nearly the entire South China Sea, a claim that overlaps with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian states, including Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Context and operational details
The operation combined surface and air assets from both countries, demonstrating coordinated activity across multiple domains of maritime security. Philippine and U.S. vessels and aircraft were deployed to operate in proximity to the shoal during the exercise period.
International claims
The Scarborough Shoal sits within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone but remains subject to competing territorial assertions from China, which contends that the area falls within its sovereign waters. The joint sail was conducted against this backdrop of overlapping claims.
Outcome
Philippine authorities characterized the exercise as successful in improving allied coordination and tactical readiness, while underlining the continued diplomatic and security sensitivities surrounding maritime claims in the South China Sea.