U.S. and Philippines conduct military drills amid tensions with China

Taipei, Taiwan, witnessed the militaries of the United States and the Philippines participating in joint drills in the Sulu Sea, adjacent to the South China Sea, several days ago. These military exercises were held amid increasing incidents between China and the Philippines in this strategically significant region. The drills involved various ships and aircraft from the navies and coast guards, along with the participation of the U.S. Air Force. The primary focus of the exercises included maritime domain awareness, division tactics, maneuvering, and search and seizure operations. China has claimed nearly the entire South China Sea through vague dash lines established in a national map released back in 2003. This has led to significant regional tensions, especially as the claims have been challenged by neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Indonesia. The Philippines, in particular, has seen China transform several disputed reefs into missile-protected island bases, such as Mischief Reef, which is located within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone. The Sulu Sea lies within that zone, as defined by international law, extending 200 nautical miles from the Philippine coastline. Despite an international arbitration ruling in 2016 that invalidated China's extensive territorial claims, China has largely ignored this ruling and continues to assert its rights over the area. This disregards the interests of the Philippines and other nations that share the sea, thereby aggravating conflicts and raising concerns about potential military confrontations in the region. Furthermore, the U.S. has maintained that it does not lay any claims over the waters but emphasizes that freedom of navigation and peaceful conflict resolution are essential for its national interests. The U.S. is also bound by a treaty to defend the Philippines in case of an attack and has been bolstering its military presence in the area. This includes the deployment of additional troops and weaponry to enhance the Philippines' defense capabilities. As a result of these developments, Chinese authorities routinely harass Philippine fishing boats within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, highlighting the ongoing regional disputes that complicate efforts for peaceful coexistence in the maritime domain.