MANILA: A two-day joint patrol between the Philippines and the United States began in the South China Sea on Wednesday, a move that is likely to provoke China.
Security collaborations between the treaty allies escalated last year amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have been engaged in disputes.
The first joint patrols were launched in November, involving three days of military drills near Taiwan and in the West Philippine Sea, referring to South China Sea waters within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
A statement from the Philippine military said that in the second joint patrol this week, the Philippine navy deployed four vessels, while the US Indo-Pacific command contributed four ships, including an aircraft carrier, a cruiser, and two destroyers.
Philippines and US Military Alliance
Romeo Brawner, the chief of the Philippine armed forces, described this second joint military activity as a “significant leap” in Manila’s alliance with the US and its interoperability with the American military.
He emphasized that the strengthened alliance sends a global message, showcasing their commitment to a rules-based international order and a free and open Indo-Pacific region in the face of regional challenges.
The latest joint patrols are likely to raise concerns in China, especially after Beijing’s recent statement expressing displeasure with what it perceived as “provocations and harassment” by the Philippines.
Chinese state media has also accused Manila of relying on US support to continually provoke China.
