The United States and Japan participated alongside the Philippines in maritime exercises in the South China Sea from July 21 to 25, 2026. The drills involved warships, coast guard vessels, and surveillance and fighter aircraft, focusing on improving interoperability among the allied forces, the Philippine military said on Sunday, July 26.
These exercises are part of a growing series of joint drills as the Philippines, supported by the US and Japan, seeks to counter China's expansive claims over the South China Sea. The Philippine military highlighted that the drills underscored "the enduring partnership among the partner nations in promoting peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region."
The exercises commenced a day after the Philippines accused Chinese Coast Guard personnel of striking a Filipino sailor with a baton at the Second Thomas Shoal. China, however, claimed that Philippine vessels had attacked first and rammed Chinese boats, and said it had taken legal measures after Philippine vessels "insisted on intruding."
During the drills, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannon at Philippine government vessels near the Scarborough Shoal on both Thursday and Friday. Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Philippines' new chief of staff of the armed forces, Antonio Nafarrete, visited the Philippine-occupied Thitu Island in the disputed Spratly Islands, approximately 300 miles west of the Philippine province of Palawan.
Chinese navy and coast guard vessels have also operated in the area during previous joint drills, reflecting ongoing tensions in the region.
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