China’s coercive military actions in the West Philippine Sea have consistently decreased as Manila conducts joint maritime drills with allied nations, the Philippine Navy has observed.
The statement follows a recent naval exercise in which Philippine Navy ships sailed alongside French aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, Aquitaine-class frigate Provence, and air defense destroyer Forbin in the contested waters.
Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, noted that Chinese vessels stayed over 120 nautical miles (222 kilometers/138 miles) away during the joint exercise.
“We have noted a marked decrease in the illegal and coercive actions of the [People’s Liberation Army Navy] each time there is a multilateral or bilateral maritime cooperative activity,” he stated. “No PLA Navy, Coast Guard, or maritime militia noted within close proximity.”
Trinidad attributed this drop to the positive impact of international cooperation, reassuring that such activities would continue in the future.
‘Syndrome of Mental Victory’
Tensions between China and the Philippines remain high over competing territorial claims in the South China Sea, with both nations asserting control over crucial waters and resources.
Parts of the South China Sea fall within Philippine territory, fueling ongoing disputes that have led to dangerous maritime incidents, including ship collisions and water cannoning.
The recent exercise between Manila and Paris aimed to enhance interoperability, as it involved communication drills, tactical maneuvers, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and personnel exchanges.
However, the Chinese Embassy in Manila dismissed the Philippine Navy’s report, calling it a “Syndrome of Mental Victory.”
“Put it simply, ‘someone assumes that he or she is always right and victorious,’” the embassy stated.
