Philippine-led joint drills with allies draw Chinese surveillance near Scarborough Shoal

The militaries of the Philippines, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States are conducting joint maritime drills within Philippine territorial waters on Saturday.

General Romeo Brawner Jr., chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, stated that these exercises demonstrate a commitment to regional cooperation and support for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

China's navy monitored the joint sea and air activities near Bajo de Masinloc (Panatag, Scarborough Shoal) on Saturday, conducting its own naval and air forces drills in response.

The Philippine military reported that Chinese vessels were observed tailing during the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity but did not interfere with the planned exercises.

Activities included pre-sail briefings, communication exercises, cross-deck exercises, division tactics/officer of the watch drills, photographic exercises, replenishment at sea approaches, maritime domain awareness exercises, and contact reporting to enhance operational readiness and collaborative capabilities.

The AFP views these joint exercises as a pivotal demonstration of international cooperation, strengthening partnerships and enhancing the capabilities of allied nations in maintaining a safe and secure maritime environment.

AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla stated that while PLAN vessels were observed tailing during the drills, no interference was reported, and all participating countries' vessels remained safe under existing protocols.