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Three-Nation Naval Exercise Conducted in Disputed South China Sea Waters

Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 10:31 PM

Naval forces from the Philippines, United States, and Japan conducted collaborative training exercises in the South China Sea this week. The military drills aimed to strengthen cooperation between the allied nations in the disputed maritime region.

Naval forces from three allied nations conducted collaborative training exercises in the contested South China Sea waters this week, according to an announcement from Philippine military officials on Friday.

The maritime training operation brought together warships and aircraft from the Philippines, United States, and Japan as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military partnerships in the region.

The Philippine military has been actively partnering with various nations since 2023 to defend its territorial claims and maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. Beijing maintains sovereignty over the majority of this resource-abundant waterway, dismissing a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated its historical territorial assertions.

According to Philippine military officials, the collaborative exercise “underscores the sustained commitment of partner forces to enhance interoperability, reinforce maritime security, and improve Maritime Domain Awareness in the region.”

The Philippines contributed its Antonio Luna frigate along with helicopter and fighter aircraft support for the training mission. Japan participated by deploying a P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft, while American forces brought the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and a Poseidon reconnaissance plane to the operation.

Training activities encompassed various maritime operations including at-sea refueling procedures, coordinated aerial patrols, aircraft flyover demonstrations, and communication system testing between the participating forces.

This exercise follows similar joint training operations that the Philippines conducted with Australian and American forces on February 15 and 16.

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