Blitz Bureau
INDIA and the Philippines have staged joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea for the first time, a high-profile military deployment that antagonised China. Beijing has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian democracies and a long-running regional rivalry with New Delhi.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner said on August 5 that the two-day joint naval sail and exercises which began on August 4 went successfully.
Asked if Chinese forces carried out any action in response, Brawner said without elaborating that “we did not experience any untoward incident but we were still shadowed. We expected that already.”
Two Chinese navy ships, including a guided-missile destroyer, were spotted about 25 nautical miles (46 km) from one of two Philippine navy frigates that participated in the joint sail, the Philippine military said. The Chinese military’s Southern Theater Command said it conducted routine patrols in the South China Sea in the last two days and added that it remains resolute in defending China’s territory and maritime rights and interests.
Without mentioning India by name, the Southern Theater Command accused the Philippines of drawing in outside countries to organise joint patrols that it said undermine regional peace and stability. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos left on August 5 for a fiveday state visit to India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top officials to boost defence, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and pharmaceutical industry engagements.
