The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has firmly dismissed a recent warning from China over the joint maritime drills conducted by the Philippines, United States, and Japan in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
AFP public affairs chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad stressed that the country’s military exercises with its allies are part of efforts to uphold the rules-based international order and maintain peace in the region.
“Statements that go against established laws hold no weight,” Trinidad said. He explained that the AFP regularly conducts operations within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and territorial waters, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
“These are acts of sovereignty and contribute to regional stability,” he added.
The drills, held March 28, drew criticism from China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which accused the Philippines of provoking tensions and warned against seeking “external support.”
In response, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) WPS spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela pointed out China’s long-standing military expansion in the region. He highlighted how China turned Panganiban Reef and Zamora Reef into fortified outposts, despite earlier claims that they were for peaceful purposes.
Tarriela questioned who is truly escalating tensions, citing China’s continued maritime presence, harassment of Filipino fishermen, and aggression toward smaller PCG vessels.
The ongoing dispute stems from China’s sweeping claims over almost the entire South China Sea, overlapping with territories claimed by the Philippines and neighboring Southeast Asian countries. In 2016, the Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled in favor of the Philippines, but Beijing has refused to recognize the decision.
The Philippines refers to its part of the South China Sea as the West Philippine Sea, which includes waters around the Kalayaan Island Group and Bajo de Masinloc.