South China Sea Tensions Escalate: U.S.-Philippines Expand Naval Drills, China Warns of Destabilization

A surge in joint naval exercises in waters near the Philippines in early January 2025 has drawn sharp complaints from Beijing, which accuses Manila of destabilizing the region by working with external powers.
U.S. and Philippines Navy warships conducting joint operations in the South China Sea. Image via @US7thFleet.

A surge in joint naval exercises in waters near the Philippines has drawn sharp complaints from Beijing, which accuses Manila of destabilizing the region by working with external powers.

On Wednesday, forces from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted a “multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity” within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement.

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by Edwin Shri Bimo

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