Indian and Philippine naval forces have launched their first-ever joint patrols in the contested waters of the South China Sea, the Philippine military announced on Monday. The development comes as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. embarks on a state visit to India.
The coordinated two-day exercise began Sunday and features three Indian Navy vessels, including the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, which recently made a port call in Manila.
President Marcos’s visit to New Delhi is expected to include discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the signing of bilateral agreements covering law, technology, and culture. However, the spotlight will be on any developments in defense cooperation.
This move is part of Manila’s broader strategy to deepen military ties with allies amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea—a region Beijing claims almost entirely, despite a 2016 international ruling invalidating those claims.
Before leaving for India, Marcos emphasized the commitment of both countries to international maritime norms, notably the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants nations exclusive economic rights within 200 nautical miles of their shores.
India has already supplied the Philippines with the BrahMos cruise missile system, a supersonic weapon with speeds reaching 3,450 km/h (2,140 mph).
As a member of the Quad—a strategic grouping with the US, Japan, and Australia—India maintains a cautious stance toward Beijing, especially after multiple border skirmishes in the Himalayas. China has accused the Quad of forming a coalition to counter its influence in the region.
