Philippines Conducts Joint Navy Drill With US, Japan

The exercise took place two days after a confrontation between Chinese and Philippine vessels over the disputed Scarborough shoal.

An aerial view of over Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea on Feb. 15, 2014. Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images

The United States, Japan, and the Philippines conducted a joint Navy drill on Dec. 6 amid tensions between Beijing and Manila over shoals in the South China Sea.

It’s the fifth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) held within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The first one was in April.