The Philippines and the United States officially kicked off their joint maritime exercises on Thursday as part of Balikatan 2025, strengthening military cooperation across Philippine waters.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the multilateral maritime event (MME) is focused on enhancing coordination and operational synergy between allies. The drills span from Subic Bay to northern Luzon and will run until April 29.
But as the drills got underway, the Philippine Navy spotted nine Chinese naval vessels near northern Luzon, including the Shandong aircraft carrier, six warships, and two support ships from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad noted that this was among the largest formations recently monitored. He said the Chinese ships were first seen about 100 nautical miles northwest of Ilocos Norte and approached as close as three nautical miles from Philippine islands, which is within legal range under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) if they’re navigating under “innocent passage.”
The Philippine Navy issued a radio challenge to the Chinese vessels but received no response.
These developments come as tensions remain high in the South China Sea, particularly within areas claimed by the Philippines, now officially referred to as the West Philippine Sea. The 2016 Hague ruling invalidated China’s sweeping maritime claims, but Beijing continues to reject the decision.
In response to the drills, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun criticized the Philippines for involving “countries outside the region” and warned of the destabilizing effects on regional peace. China also reiterated its opposition to foreign military presence in the area, citing Taiwan as a growing flashpoint for confrontation.
Meanwhile, China has increased its military presence around Taiwan, calling its latest drills a message to separatist forces, though Taipei firmly rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims.