MANILA — The United States and the Philippines launched their first joint naval patrol rotations across the South China Sea on Thursday under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, a move Manila described as “routine and entirely within international law” but which Beijing immediately called a “deliberate provocation.”
The inaugural rotation saw a US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and a Philippine coast guard vessel conducting coordinated operations in waters China claims as its own. The US 7th Fleet confirmed the exercise and said it demonstrated “the ironclad commitment of the United States to its ally.” The Philippines military said the patrols would be conducted on a quarterly rotating basis going forward.
China’s PLA Navy shadowed the flotilla with two warships and a coast guard cutter throughout the operation, according to the Philippines defence ministry. China’s foreign ministry said it had lodged a formal complaint with Washington and demanded the patrols be “immediately halted.” The US has no territorial claims in the South China Sea but has consistently asserted the right of free navigation.
The joint patrol rotations were agreed under a 2023 amendment to the EDCA that allows US forces to operate from nine Philippine bases, four of which are in the northern island of Luzon — within striking distance of Taiwan. China had warned the expanded basing agreement was “dangerous” and threatened countermeasures against companies and individuals involved.
ASEAN member states have been divided on the South China Sea disputes, with Cambodia and Laos generally aligning with Beijing and the Philippines and Vietnam taking a more assertive stance. Thursday’s joint patrol drew support from Japan and Australia, both of which issued statements endorsing freedom of navigation operations.
Sources: Reuters, AP, Philippines Daily Inquirer, South China Morning Post, BBC