Philippines and US hold joint maritime drills in South China Sea

This is the third time the Philippines and the United States have held a joint exercise (representative)

Manila:

The Philippines and the United States held joint maritime exercises in the South China Sea on Friday, the Philippine military said, the latest round of exercises highlighting the continued expansion of defense ties between the two countries.

Security contacts between the two treaty allies surged last year amid tensions in the South China Sea, with the Philippines and China blaming each other over a series of territorial disputes.

This is the third time since November that the Philippines and former colonial ruler the United States have held joint drills in the South China Sea, a move that has frustrated Beijing, which opposes U.S. interference in its backyard.

“This demonstrates our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and promotes close cooperation to further enhance our maritime capabilities,” Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Romeo Brauner said in a statement.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, a passageway for more than $3 trillion in annual commercial shipping, and includes parts of the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei.

It deploys a large coast guard to police the claims, which the Philippines accuses of hostile intent and violations of international law. China says it is protecting its territory.

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