Philippines, India Conduct First Joint Naval Patrols in South China Sea

Chinese military also sailed its warships to the contested waters

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Gen. Romeo Brawner speaks during a press conference after a command conference with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the military headquarters in Manila on July 4, 2024. Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images

The Philippine Navy on Aug. 4 wrapped up a two-day patrol with Indian forces in the South China Sea, where the Chinese regime’s aggressive actions to assert territorial claims have escalated regional tensions.

“For the first time in history, we had a joint sail with the Indian Navy,” Gen. Romeo Brawner, the country’s military chief, told reporters on Aug. 4. He hailed the bilateral maritime cooperative activity as successful.