Manila, May 21 - Coast Guard vessels from the Philippines and the United States conducted joint maritime exercises with naval and air force units in the contested South China Sea on Tuesday. This marks the first time the coast guards of both nations have participated in such exercises.
The exercises took place in waters off Palawan and Occidental Mindoro. Participating units included the Philippine Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, along with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The "maritime cooperative activity" included communication drills and search-and-rescue scenarios. This is the second such activity this year and the sixth overall since the allies began these joint exercises in 2023. The drills come amid ongoing tensions between the Philippines and China over sovereignty in the South China Sea.