The United States and the Philippines launched their first joint naval patrol rotation under the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement on Thursday, deploying a US Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and a Philippine coast guard vessel in coordinated operations across the South China Sea. Manila called the patrols routine and entirely within international law. Beijing called them a deliberate provocation and demanded they stop. China PLA Navy shadowed the flotilla with two warships and a coast guard cutter. The US 7th Fleet confirmed the exercise. China summoned the US ambassador in Beijing for formal consultations. The patrols mark the first rotational deployment under EDCA since the agreement was updated in 2024, and the first time US and Philippine vessels have operated together in contested South China Sea waters since a similar exercise in April was cancelled under Chinese diplomatic pressure.
The State Department said the patrols were fully consistent with international law and that the US would continue exercising its rights to navigate the South China Sea. Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo said Manila had no intention of escalating tensions but would continue to assert its maritime rights under UNCLOS. The Philippines filed formal protests with Beijing over the shadowing of its vessels and demanded the PLA Navy maintain a minimum safe distance. Japan defence ministry said it was closely monitoring developments and remained committed to regional security.
The South China Sea is one of the world most contested maritime regions, with China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan making overlapping territorial claims. The US has no direct territorial claim but has declared it will defend freedom of navigation. Thursday patrol is the largest US-Philippine joint naval exercise in the South China Sea in more than two years.
Sources: Reuters, AP, Philippines Daily Inquirer, South China Morning Post, BBC.