According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), two Chinese warships were observed on September 28 in the West Philippine Sea, monitoring combined maritime exercises involving the Philippines, the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand. The Chinese vessels closely followed the maneuvers, though they maintained a distance of between half a nautical mile and fourteen nautical miles from the participating forces to avoid direct interference with the activity.
The Philippine Navy’s spokesperson, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, emphasized that no aggression was shown by the Chinese ships during the drill. “The Chinese ships behaved professionally,” he said, stressing that their conduct during such occasions indicates they understand the importance of restraint.
This collaborative exercise is the first to involve New Zealand and the fourth in the area. According to AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, the exercises proceeded without any issues.
On the same day as the joint drills, China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) conducted routine naval and air exercises near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. Although the location of the multinational exercise was undisclosed, the AFP explained that it was held within the Northern Luzon Command’s area of operations, which includes the waters surrounding Scarborough Shoal.
The AFP did not receive any reports of aggressive activities by Chinese forces despite China’s concurrent exercises. Admiral Trinidad interpreted Beijing’s announcement of its drills as an attempt to maintain domestic support. “China conducts these activities to avoid appearing weak to its internal audience,” he stated.
The five-nation naval drill focused on improving cooperation and interoperability through exercises such as tactical training and communications checks. Safety protocols and procedures ensured the security of the participating ships throughout the patrol.
These drills took place following high-level discussions between Chinese and American officials during the UN General Assembly in New York. During the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, while Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged the United States not to provoke tensions in the area.
Before participating in the West Philippine Sea exercises, vessels from Australia, Japan, and New Zealand had passed through the Taiwan Strait, a strategically significant region.
China continues to claim nearly the entire South China Sea, despite rival claims from the Philippines and other countries, as well as an international ruling that contradicts Beijing’s position. To assert its control, China has militarized several artificial islands and regularly patrols the region to demonstrate its power.
