The South China Sea, a disputed waterway crucial to global trade, joint naval exercises conducted by the Philippines, the United States, and other Western allies have effectively deterred “coercive and aggressive” maneuvers by China, according to a top Filipino military official. The exercises, part of an ongoing effort to counter growing Chinese influence in the region, have reportedly led to a temporary reduction in hostile encounters in the contested waters, especially around strategically critical reefs and islands.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for South China Sea affairs, revealed these insights during a high-profile security forum in Manila on Wednesday. Admiral Trinidad attributed the decline in aggressive Chinese actions to the regular joint patrols, formally known as Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities (MMCA), conducted by the Philippines and allied forces. This year alone, ten instances of MMCA have occurred, providing valuable time and space for the Philippines to bolster its maritime defenses amid a rising tide of geopolitical tensions.
The South China Sea has long been a flashpoint in East Asia, with Beijing claiming nearly the entirety of the waterway, despite competing claims from the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. This claim was legally challenged in 2016 when an international tribunal at The Hague ruled that China’s expansive claim lacked a basis in international law. However, China has largely disregarded this ruling, asserting its “historical rights” to the sea. The region is not only significant for its potential energy reserves but also serves as a vital passageway for global trade, with over $3 trillion worth of goods flowing through annually.
In recent months, tensions have escalated with China intensifying its activities around Philippine-held features in the sea, employing a range of vessels including its navy, coast guard, and a so-called maritime militia—allegedly civilian fishing boats mobilized to assert Chinese territorial interests. These activities have led to increasingly frequent encounters with Philippine forces, especially during resupply missions to remote Philippine outposts in the region.
Rear Admiral Trinidad noted that the presence of U.S. and allied forces appears to have had a direct impact on Chinese behavior. He explained that “during the conduct of MMCAs, there have been no observed coercive and aggressive actions by the (People’s Liberation Army) Navy, Coast Guard or the maritime militia,” citing that such restraint was visible both shortly before, during, and immediately after each exercise.
This reduction in Chinese actions underscores the potential of the MMCAs to maintain peace and stability in the region. By conducting these joint exercises, the Philippines and its allies are not only enhancing interoperability among their naval forces but are also sending a strong message to Beijing about their commitment to protecting freedom of navigation and upholding international law. Rear Admiral Trinidad further emphasized the likelihood of increasing the number of joint naval drills in 2025, a move that could continue to dissuade China from asserting control over contested areas.
Despite the temporary deterrent provided by the joint exercises, Admiral Trinidad acknowledged that the Philippines faces a “great challenge” in securing its maritime claims due to limitations in its naval equipment and capabilities. Unlike China’s well-funded and technologically advanced fleet, the Philippine Navy remains under-resourced, reliant on the support of its allies to maintain an effective presence in its own territorial waters.
Moreover, Admiral Trinidad voiced concerns over the limited support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which includes nine other countries besides the Philippines. ASEAN has long been divided over how to respond to China’s actions, given that some member states, including Cambodia and Laos, have strong political and economic ties with Beijing. This division has hindered the bloc’s ability to present a unified stance on the South China Sea dispute, leaving nations like the Philippines to face China largely alone.
“ASEAN is not doing enough to support the Philippines or international law,” Trinidad stated. He urged ASEAN members with overlapping claims to resist China’s pressures and to avoid “suffering in silence.” Trinidad’s comments reflect growing frustration within the Philippines over ASEAN’s perceived lack of action, with some calling for more assertive regional policies to counterbalance China’s influence.
In response to the increased military presence of the U.S. and its allies in the South China Sea, Beijing has repeatedly asserted its sovereignty over the disputed islands and their adjacent waters. At a press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning emphasized that “China has sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters” and vowed that Beijing would continue to “safeguard our sovereign rights and interests in accordance with domestic and international law.”
Mao criticized the joint exercises as provocations, suggesting that such displays of military power could escalate regional tensions rather than contribute to peace. “Making a show of force and provoking confrontation in the South China Sea will only escalate tensions and undermine regional stability,” she warned. However, her remarks underscore Beijing’s unease with the growing cooperation among Western and regional powers in what China regards as its sphere of influence.
The U.S. and its allies, while refraining from taking an official position on the territorial disputes, have consistently asserted that freedom of navigation must be preserved in the South China Sea. The U.S. Navy, in particular, has conducted Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) to challenge excessive maritime claims and ensure open access for commercial and military vessels alike.
Washington views China’s actions as a direct threat to international trade flows, particularly as Beijing has sought to militarize artificial islands in the South China Sea, equipping them with airstrips, radar systems, and missile batteries. According to the U.S. and its allies, these developments could impede open passage through the sea, potentially affecting the flow of goods and energy supplies to countries far beyond the region.
In addition to the United States, other Western allies, including Japan and Australia, have shown increasing interest in supporting the Philippines’ defense efforts. Japan has recently entered a series of security agreements with the Philippines, and Australia has participated in a number of joint military drills in the region, signaling a growing coalition of like-minded countries committed to countering China’s influence.
For its part, the European Union has also expressed support for freedom of navigation in the South China Sea and condemned actions that threaten stability in the area. While the EU’s involvement has been less direct, its stance represents an important facet of international opinion, adding diplomatic weight to the coalition of countries supporting the Philippines’ sovereignty and international maritime law.
