Jamaine Punzalan

A Philippine navy officer (C) disembarks while officers of the Indian Navy survey vessel INS Sandhayak salute after docking at the international port of Manila on August 1, 2025. Ted Aljibe, AFP

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

Katrina Domingo

Jessie Cruzat

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1754273393112AFP__20250801__68H89WE__v1__MidRes__PhilippinesIndiaDiplomacyDefence.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">A Philippine navy officer (C) disembarks while officers of the Indian Navy survey vessel INS Sandhayak salute after docking at the international port of Manila on August 1, 2025. Ted Aljibe, AFP </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila&#x27;s military said Monday, as <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/marcos-departs-for-india-to-forge-strategic-relationship-court-more-investments-in-state-visit-1048">President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. departed for a state visit to New Delhi.</a></p><p>The two-day sail includes three Indian vessels and started Sunday, a day before Marcos left on a trip that will include talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.</p><p>Two Philippine Navy warships—BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and the newly commissioned BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06)—sailed alongside three Indian naval vessels: the INS Delhi (D61), a guided missile destroyer; INS Kiltan (P30), an anti-submarine corvette; and INS Shakti (A57), a fleet tanker that had docked in Manila for a port visit earlier this week.</p><p>The joint drills took place within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and covered a wide range of naval exercises including communication drills and complex formation maneuvers.</p><p>“Kakaiba. Ang masasabi ko, a level up activity that we conducted compared to the previous 3 MCAs that we have. This time, we were able to test the capabilities of our new ship,” said Capt. Paul Michael Hechanova, the commanding officer of BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG06).</p><p>One of the highlights was an air defense exercise where all ships circled and defended the Indian oil tanker from a simulated aerial threat.</p><p>The BRP Miguel Malvar demonstrated its cutting-edge 35mm Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), capable of intercepting incoming missiles, rotating 360 degrees, and firing up to 1,100 rounds per minute.</p><p>“On top of that, meron din siyang naka-konektang radar that will help you to track, identify, and eventually, assign a firing solution para sa weapon system na to,” he added.</p><p>India also deployed a naval helicopter for a photo exercise to capture the coordinated movements of the fleet.</p><p>The training also involved replenishment-at-sea (RAS) operations, which develop the navy’s capability to transfer fuel and supplies between ships while underway. The RAS aims to prolong endurance of the ship in open waters.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CHINESE SHIPS SPOTTED</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, two People&#x27;s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels from China were spotted 10 to 15 nautical miles from the area while the joint exercises were ongoing.</p><p>“We just keep on tracking and monitoring them but eventually nakita natin sila kahapon. Nagpakita sa horizon. Hindi po siya naging hadlang para hindi natin ituloy ‘yong activity natin. We proceeded as planned, safely and professionally,” Hechanova added.</p><p>The naval drills concluded on Monday morning with soldiers from both navies exchanging salutes and waves— a ceremony marking the end of the cooperative activity.</p><p>While the exercises served to strengthen military interoperability between the Philippines and India, officials emphasized that the activity also aimed to uphold international maritime law, promote peace and stability in the region, and ensure the protection of the waters from potential threats.</p><p>The Philippines has heightened defense cooperation with a range of allies over the past year after a series of clashes in the South China Sea.</p><p>Beijing claims nearly the entirety of the waterway despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.</p><p>India&#x27;s naval vessels, including the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, arrived in Manila for a port visit late last week.</p><p>While in India, Marcos is expected to sign pacts in such fields as law, culture and technology, according to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, but all eyes will be on any potential defense agreements.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/1/marcos-to-sign-at-least-six-deals-in-india-state-visit-dfa-1302">Marcos to sign at least six deals in India state visit: DFA</a></div><p>Before departing Monday, Marcos praised the two countries&#x27; &quot;steadfastness in upholding international maritime law, including the UNCLOS&quot;, the UN treaty granting an exclusive economic zone within 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) of a country&#x27;s shores.</p><p>The Philippines has previously purchased <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/4/23/ph-set-to-receive-2nd-batch-of-brahmos-missiles-from-india-teodoro-confirms-1412">BrahMos </a>supersonic cruise missiles from India, a weapon which has a top speed of 3,450 kilometers per hour. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/overseas/12/13/22/china-says-situation-stable-on-india-border-after-reports-of-clashes">India, which has engaged in border clashes with China </a></div><p>Beijing has repeatedly alleged that the four-way partnership, first conceived by late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe, was created as a way of containing China.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE ACTIVITIES EYED</strong></div><p>Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said Monday that the Philippines is eyeing to have more military cooperation activities with India’s troops.</p><p>“So far, maganda yung results. We have met our objectives for the exercise and first time in the history na nagkaroon tayo ng joint sail with the Indian Navy,” Brawner told reporters in a chance interview.</p><p>“Wala tayong na-experience na untoward incidents but may mga nagshashadow-shadow pa rin sa atin,” he said, referring to Chinese ships which have been illegally sailing in Philippine waters.</p><p>&quot;We are hoping na tuloy-tuloy ito so mas marami pa tayong gagawin na exercises and activities with the Indian Army and Indian Air Forces.&quot;</p><p>Brawner said he extended the invitation for the joint sail to his Indian counterpart in March.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/25/ph-canadas-vfa-like-military-agreement-ready-for-signing-teodoro-1815">PH-Canada’s VFA-like military agreement ‘ready for signing’: Teodoro</a></div><p>“We are happy with the quick response of the Indian Armed Forces so we are very hopeful na mas marami pa itong mga gagawin natin na joint activities,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eZ7Ro0ze6AU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila's military said Monday.</p>

Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila's military said Monday.

Philippine, Indian navies begin first joint West Philippine Sea patrols

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Philippine, Indian navies begin first joint West Philippine Sea patrols

Agence France-Presse,

Katrina Domingo,

Jessie Cruzat,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 04, 2025 10:13 AM PHT

|

Updated Aug 04, 2025 08:02 PM PHT

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