SUBIC BAY, Philippines — The Philippines and the United States launched their Multilateral Maritime Event (MME) on Thursday as part of the ongoing Balikatan joint military exercises, amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the maritime drills aim to strengthen interoperability and regional security coordination among allied nations operating within the Philippine archipelagic waters. The MME runs from Subic Bay to northern Luzon and will continue until April 29.
During the exercises, the Philippine Navy monitored a significant presence of Chinese military vessels near the country’s northern maritime boundary. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, spokesperson for the Navy’s West Philippine Sea operations, confirmed the sighting of nine vessels, including China’s Shandong aircraft carrier, six warships, and two support ships from the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
“This is one of the more unusual formations we’ve observed,” Trinidad said.
“They were first detected about 100 nautical miles northwest of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and came as close as three nautical miles from our northern islands, just outside the bounds of our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).”
Photo from AFPThe Navy issued a radio challenge, but the Chinese vessels did not respond, Trinidad noted.
He added that while the proximity is concerning, the passage of foreign ships may fall under “innocent passage” rights under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)—provided movement is continuous and non-threatening.
China Protests PH-US Drills
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun condemned the joint drills, accusing Manila of heightening regional tensions by involving “countries outside the region”—referring to the United States.
“The Philippines brought in strategic and tactical weapons, putting itself at odds with regional neighbors,” Guo said, adding that military drills near Taiwan “disturb regional peace.”
He further warned: “Those who play with fire will perish by it.”
China has recently ramped up military activity around Taiwan, which it considers a breakaway province. It continues to reject the 2016 Hague tribunal ruling, which favored the Philippines and invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South China Sea.
The Philippines, for its part, maintains its sovereign rights over areas within the West Philippine Sea, a designation that includes the Luzon Sea, Kalayaan Island Group, and Bajo de Masinloc.
As maritime tensions escalate, the ongoing Balikatan exercises reaffirm the Philippines’ commitment to regional defense cooperation with allies while spotlighting China’s increasing assertiveness in disputed waters.