Overview
- The two-day drills held August 3–4 in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone off Luzon marked the first bilateral maritime exercise between the two navies.
- China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian and the PLA Southern Theatre Command lodged formal protests, deeming the drills as third-party interference in dispute settlement.
- India’s Ministry of External Affairs reaffirmed that the South China Sea is part of the global commons, asserting that disputes must be settled peacefully under UNCLOS.
- During Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s visit to New Delhi, leaders elevated bilateral ties to a strategic partnership, pledging broader defence and trade cooperation.
- Participating assets included Philippine guided-missile frigates BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal, the Indian destroyer INS Delhi, corvette INS Kiltan, tanker INS Shakti and multi-role naval helicopters conducting air defence and search-and-rescue drills.