U.S., Philippines Kick Off Largest Joint Military Exercises in Decades
The drills that opened today demonstrate Manila’s increased military cooperation with Washington under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office last year (FT)
In total, about 17,600 personnel will participate in these exercises, which will run until April 28, compared to nine thousand people last year; in addition,Marcos Jr. has granted U.S. forces greater access to Philippine military bases facing Taiwan and disputed areas of the South China Sea (Nikkei)
The drills coincidentally follow three days of nearby military exercises from China, which has faced increased tensions with the United States and the Philippines over some of its territorial claims; meanwhile, the foreign policy and defense chiefs of the United States and the Philippines are meeting in Washington today for the first time in seven years (AP)
US Military Gains Access to Additional Philippine Bases
The office of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has identified the locations of the four additional Philippine bases that the United States military will now have access to; the four bases include three on the island of Luzon, facing Taiwan, and one in Palawan near the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea (Al Jazeera)
China: U.S. Ship Illegally Entered Waters
China’s military claims it drove the destroyer USS Milius away after it illegally entered China’s territorial waters near the Paracel Islands; the U.S. Navy stated that the destroyer was conducting “routine operations” and denied claims that the ship was expelled by the Chinese (Reuters)
Chinese Foreign Vice-Minister to Visit Philippines
China’s Foreign Vice-Minister Sun Weidong will meet with his Philippine counterpart Theresa Lazaro later this week in their first face-to-face meeting since the Covid-19 pandemic to discuss the South China Sea and other issues (South China Morning Post)
EU Considers Increasing Naval Visits
Richard Tibbels, the EU’s special envoy to the Indo-Pacific region, said that the EU would like to increase naval visits and explore opportunities for joint military training exercises in the South China Sea; Tibbels also discussed the EU’s commitment to providing satellite surveillance to countries like the Philippines to assist with security and disaster response (AP)
China Attempts to Control Internet Cable Projects
China has impeded plans for internet cables that cross the South China Sea through lengthy approval processes and stricter permit requirements; the increased requirements, which include permits for projects outside its internationally recognized waters, have prompted companies to seek out alternate routes, according to sources within the industry (FT)
Philippines: Australia, Japan Discuss Joint Sea Patrols With United States
The Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. said the Philippines is in discussions to include Australia and Japan in joint South China Sea patrols with the United States (Reuters)
In a speech to the military, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines’ must focus on protecting its territorial integrity (Al Jazeera)
Indonesia, China Pledge To ‘Intensify’ Code of Conduct Negotiations
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno said Indonesia and ASEAN would like to produce a COC that is “effective, substantive, and actionable” (Reuters)
Meanwhile, the Philippines spoke with Australia and the United States to discuss pursuing joint patrols in the South China Sea; China’s increasingly aggressive actions are causing concern, according to top defense officials in the three nations (AP)
Philippines and U.S. Discuss Joint Guard Patrols
A Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson said joint patrols are highly likely, given preexisting naval cooperation (Reuters)
Philippines: China Used ‘Military-Grade’ Laser
The Philippines said a Chinese ship shone a “military grade” laser light and made “dangerous maneuvers” at a Filipino coast guard boat during a resupply mission to a disputed shoal in the South China Sea (BBC)
Japan, Philippines Pledge to Strengthen Defense Ties
In Tokyo, the leaders of the two countries pledged to “further advance defense cooperation” and signed a deal that is expected to lead to an agreement that makes it easier for Japanese troops to join disaster response and military drills in the Philippines (Nikkei)
Philippines Increases Presence in South China Sea
The Philippines has deployed additional vessels and conducted more sorties and overflights to protect its maritime territory and fishermen, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (Reuters)
Philippines: Navy Ship Tailed by Four Chinese Vessels
A Filipino navy ship was conducting a patrol and search mission near Mischief Reef, within the country’s two hundred nautical mile exclusive economic zone, when it was monitored and tailed by two Chinese coast guard ships and two militia vessels (Bloomberg)
U.S. to Gain Access to Four Philippine Military Bases Amid Tensions With China
Washington and Manila announced today that the United States will increase its military presence in the Philippines to a level not seen in thirty years, allowing the United States to temporarily station equipment and build facilities in a total of nine locations across the country (NYT)
The agreement builds on a military cooperation deal signed under the previous Philippine president, Rodrigo Duterte, who delayed implementing it as he sought Chinese investment (Nikkei)
The move comes amid a long-running territorial dispute between Beijing and Manila over waters in the South China Sea, as well as growing concerns that China could invade Taiwan (BBC)
Speaking in Manila, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S.-Philippines partnership is especially important as China “continues to advance its illegitimate claims” (Department of Defense)
A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said today’s announcement “is exacerbating tension in the region” (Reuters)
China’s Patrols Hit New High in 2022
The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative released a report outlining how China’s Coast Guard maintained near-daily patrols across key features last year, including Scarborough Shoal, Luconia Shoals, and Vanguard Bank; Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the patrols are to “maintain maritime order and defend China’s legitimate and lawful rights and interests” (Bloomberg)
United States and the Philippines Vow to Renew Defense Cooperation
The allies agreed to “invigorate” defense and security cooperation in a dialogue hosted in Manila; U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink said that the South China Sea was “central” to their conversations (South China Morning Post)
China Increases Satellite Monitoring of Disputed Islands
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation’s annual report revealed that Chinese satellite monitoring in the South and East China Seas expanded in 2022 (South China Morning Post)
Chinese Fighter Jet Flies Within Six Meters of US Military Aircraft
The incident occurred on December 21, but the United States disclosed the incident today, accusing the Chinese aircraft of an “unsafe maneuver”; the PLA also simulated an attack on an American naval group on the same day (FT)
China Denies Using Force in South China Sea
A Philippine military commander reported that the Chinese coastguard “forcefully retrieved” a piece of rocket debris from a Philippine vessel by cutting the line attaching it to the boat, a claim which China’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning denied during a regular news briefing (Reuters)
Philippines Accelerates Implementation of U.S. Military Base Deal
Manila said it will speed up implementation of a deal that allows U.S. troops to access local military bases (Nikkei)
Vietnam Affirms Closer Ties with China
During a four-day visit to China, Vietnamese Communist Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong vowed to refuse to host foreign bases on its soil and stated that relationships with China was Vietnam’s “top priority” (South China Morning Post)
Meanwhile, new images taken during a reconnaissance mission over the Spratly Islands indicate the current extent of China’s military build-up in the South China Sea with their constructed artificial islands housing an array of sophisticated weaponry and two large structures that could be used to store ballistic missile launchers (Radio Free Asia)
U.S. Provides $100 Million in Foreign Military Financing to Philippines
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines, MaryKay Carlson, announced the additional military aid following the country’s recent decision to forgo a $227.23 million deal with Russia (Reuters)
Philippines and U.S. Launch Naval Exercises Amid Tensions with China
The joint naval exercise between the United States and the Philippines known as KAMANDAG is set to run until October 14 and involves 3,080 American and Filipino troops in a series of island-based exercises; Japan and South Korea are joining as observers (Reuters)
China Coopts Civilian Ships to Expand Naval Capabilities and Influence
Regional governments and experts noted that China has been utilizing civilian vessels, notably fishing boats and ferries, to enhance surveillance across the South China Sea as part of a civil-military fusion strategy (AP)
U.S., UK, and Australia Announce Progress in AUKUS Security Pact
Leaders of the U.S., UK, and Australia released a joint statement announcing progress toward Australia’s acquisition of a nuclear-powered submarine amid China’s military buildup around Taiwan and in the South China Sea (Reuters)
Additionally, Presidents Joe Biden and Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to discuss the developing situation in the South China Sea, reasserting their commitment to freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes (Reuters)