The Philippines’ armed forces announced that they conducted naval and air drills alongside the United States, Australia and New Zealand from Thursday to Friday in the South China Sea, a region marked by contested maritime claims.

The exercise forms the latest iteration of the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity, underlining Manila’s push to deepen defence ties with key allies.

The drills included surface and aerial assets operating in cooperation within Philippine-claimed waters known as the West Philippine Sea.

According to officials, the activity is intended to bolster collective capacity to maintain maritime domain awareness, reinforce adherence to international law and enhance interoperability across partner forces.

For the United States and its regional partners, the exercise signals commitment to supporting freedom of navigation and security in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia and New Zealand’s participation reflects their growing role in maritime stability beyond their immediate region.

Manila views the drills as part of its broader strategy to strengthen deterrence and alliance networks amid increasing pressure from rival claimants in the South China Sea.

The participation of advanced air and naval elements underscores its emphasis on enhanced capability rather than symbolic presence alone.

The Philippines noted this was its twelfth MMCA with these partners, underscoring the sustained nature of the cooperation.

While China was not involved in the exercise, its growing activity in the South China Sea continued to serve as a backdrop to the operation.

The drill reinforces the narrative that smaller maritime states are leveraging alliances to safeguard their rights under international law and fortify collective defence architecture in a complex sea environment.