For the first time, the Philippine and United States coast guards have taken part in joint military exercises, according to a statement issued by Manila’s armed forces on Wednesday. The activity formed part of broader bilateral drills conducted in the South China Sea.
Despite a 2016 international ruling invalidating its claims, Beijing continues to assert control over nearly the entire disputed waterway, a crucial route through which more than 60 percent of global maritime trade flows.
The “maritime cooperative activity” took place Tuesday in waters off Palawan and Occidental Mindoro, in the western Philippines.
While the Philippine and US coast guards have previously held bilateral exercises, this marks their first participation within a unified military drill — a development the Philippine military described as reflecting a “growing whole-of-nation approach to maritime cooperation.”
Assets deployed included the Philippine coast guard’s BRP Melchora Aquino (97 meters) and BRP Malapascua (44 meters), as well as the US Coast Guard cutter Stratton.
