Philippines, US hold joint drills in South China Sea

The Philippines and the U.S. conducted their first joint naval exercise of 2025 in the South China Sea, sending a signal to China.
According to Voice of America, the Philippine Armed Forces announced conducting this year's first joint exercise with the U.S. in the South China Sea, which might make China uncomfortable.
In a statement, the Philippine military indicated that they conducted a 'Maritime Cooperation Activity' with the U.S. in the Palawan region of the West Philippine Sea on January 17-18. This was the fifth iteration of joint exercises that began in November 2023.
The West Philippine Sea is the Philippines' name for its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea. Under President Ferdinand Marcos's leadership, security cooperation between the Philippines and the U.S. has strengthened. He has shown inclination toward the U.S. government and allowed expansion of military bases available for U.S. military use, including facilities near Taiwan.