Philippines and U.S. conduct joint naval exercises in the South China Sea.

For the first time, Coast Guard ships from the Philippines and the United States have participated in combined maritime drills alongside naval and air force units in the disputed South China Sea, Manila’s military announced on Wednesday.

The drills, conducted on Tuesday in the waters near Palawan and Occidental Mindoro, included the Philippine Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft.

The “maritime cooperative activity,” marking the second occurrence this year and the sixth overall since the allies initiated joint operations in 2023, involved communication exercises and search-and-rescue scenarios, according to a statement from the military.

“Joint activities like the MCA reaffirm the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ commitment to modernising its capabilities and strengthening defence partnerships to secure our national and regional maritime interests,” AFP Chief Romeo Brawner said.

The relationship between the Philippines and China has become tense due to conflicts over territorial rights in the South China Sea, which is a route for over $3 trillion in yearly maritime trade. China asserts its dominance over most of this crucial waterway, despite a ruling from an international arbitral tribunal in 2016 that determined Beijing’s claims lack legal foundation according to international law. China does not acknowledge the ruling.