Philippines steps up operations with its allies

Against the backdrop of rising tensions in the South China Sea – most notably, yet another violent incident two weeks ago at the hotly-disputed Second Thomas Shoal – the Philippines has stepped up its cooperation with traditional allies.

In a historic first, the Southeast Asian nation conducted joint naval patrols with the United States, Australia, and Japan in the disputed waters, setting the stage for the emergence of a new “Quad” in the Indo-Pacific.

The drill saw the Philippine Navy frigate BRP Antonio Luna joined by Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Akebono, Royal Australian Navy frigate Warramunga and US littoral combat ship Mobile. The four allies conducted communication and division tactics exercises as part of their broader efforts at enhancing interoperability in response to potential contingencies in the region.

The quadrilateral drill held over the weekend took place within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-miles exclusive zone, a clear sign of joint efforts to push China out of Philippine waters. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) characterized the unprecedented drill as part of the four allies’ shared “commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific through interoperability exercises in the maritime domain.”

In a joint statement, the US, Australia, Japan and the Philippines underscored their determination to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and respect for maritime rights under international law” under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Crucially, the drills came shortly before the first-ever trilateral summit among US President Joseph Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and