MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippines, Japa,n and the US deployed vessels and aircraft during a joint exercise in the South China Sea, the Philippine military said on Sunday.
"These continuous engagements underscore the sustained commitment of the three nations to enhancing maritime cooperation, promoting regional security and supporting a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific,” Xerxes Trinidad, chief public affairs officer of the Philippine armed forces, said in a press statement Sunday.
The drills happened as China plans to establish a national nature reserve at Scarborough Shoal, which is also claimed by the Philippines. The Philippines, Japan and the US have been stepping up joint military exercises in recent months, as they seek a stronger alliance.
China warned the Philippines "to immediately cease provoking incidents and escalating tensions in the South China Sea,” Tian Junli, a spokesperson for China’s military said in a statement on Sunday, adding that the military is on high alert to defend the country’s sovereignty.
"We sternly warn the Philippine side to immediately stop provoking incidents and escalating tensions in the South China Sea, as well as bringing in external forces for backing such efforts that are destined to be futile," the spokesperson said.
"Any attempt to stir up trouble or disrupt the situation will not succeed." -- ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
