India and the Philippines have staged joint sail and naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea for the first time.
Chief of staff of Armed Forces of the Philippines, Gen. Romeo Brawner said Monday, August 4, 2025, that the two-day joint naval sail and exercises which began Sunday have been successful so far.
He also expressed hopes that Filipino forces could engage India’s military in more joint maneuvers in the future.
Referring to Chinese forces’ action in response to the drills, Brawner said, “We did not experience any untoward incident but we were still shadowed,” adding that it was expected already.
In past joint patrols with other foreign navies, Chinese navy and coast guard ships have kept watch from a distance, according to the Philippine military.
Beijing has separate territorial disputes with the two Asian democracies and a long-running regional rivalry with New Delhi.
China has a longstanding land border dispute with India in the Himalayas, which sparked a month long war in 1962 and a number of deadly firefights after.
Separately, Beijing’s expansive claims to virtually the entire South China Sea, a key global trade route, has led to tense confrontations with other claimant states, particularly the Philippines and Vietnam. Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claims to parts of the contested waters.
The Philippines has staged naval patrols in the disputed waters with its treaty ally, the United States, and other strategic partners including Japan, Australia, New Zealand and France to promote freedom of navigation and overflight and strengthen deterrence against China.
It has allowed journalists to join territorial sea and aerial patrols to witness China’s increasingly aggressive actions, provoking angry Chinese reactions.
Last week, Chinese Defense Ministry Spokesperson, Col. Zhang Xiaogang slammed Manila’s plans to build up military cooperation, saying in a news conference that the Philippines is a “troublemaker” that has aligned itself with foreign forces to stir up trouble in what China deems its own territorial waters.
“China never wavers in its resolve and will to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests and will take resolute countermeasures against any provocations by the Philippine side.”
Col. Zhang Xiaogang
Philippine President On Five-day Visit To India
Meanwhile, Philippine President, Ferdinand Marcos left Monday, August 4, 2025, for a five-day state visit to India for talks with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and other top officials to boost defense, trade and investment, agriculture, tourism and pharmaceutical industry engagements.
This would be his first visit to India. Marcos after arrival in New Delhi will meet with External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.
On August 5, 2025, he will lay a wreath at Rajghat. Marcos will then hold talks with PM Modi in Hyderabad House. Exchange of Memoranda of Understanding and Press Statements will take place thereafter.
Marcos will then meet JP Nadda, Minister of Health and Family Welfare and thereafter President Droupadi Murmu. The Philippines’ President will then travel to Bengaluru on August 7, and meet Karnataka Governor, Thawar Chand Gehlot.
The visit is being viewed as the culmination of sustained political-level dialogue even as they strengthened maritime cooperation as both Philippines and India are strong proponents of freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
Diplomatic relations between India and the Philippines were established in November 1949. Both countries have since developed a strong partnership across a broad spectrum of areas.
The two countries also engage closely at the regional level, including through India’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN.
Modi had met President Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of 21st ASEAN-India Summit and the 19th East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR in October 2024. They had also met on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN-India Summit in Jakarta in September 2023.
READ ALSO: 24-Hour Economy Gains Momentum: Deloitte Tips Ghana to Hit 2025 GDP Milestone
