For the first time, Indian Navy warships have joined their Philippine counterparts in patrolling the disputed South China Sea, Manila’s military confirmed Monday, coinciding with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s departure for a state visit to India.
The joint patrol, involving three Indian vessels, began on Sunday—just a day before Marcos flew to New Delhi, where he is expected to hold discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Philippines has been strengthening defense ties with various partners following multiple confrontations in the South China Sea over the past year. China lays claim to nearly the entire maritime region, a stance that has been rejected by an international tribunal as lacking legal merit.
Among the Indian warships is the INS Delhi, a guided missile destroyer, which docked in Manila late last week for a port visit.
During his visit to India, Marcos is likely to sign cooperation agreements in areas such as law, culture, and technology, according to Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Evangeline Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq. However, potential defense accords are expected to draw the most attention.
Before departing, Marcos commended both nations for their “steadfastness in upholding international maritime law, including UNCLOS,” the UN convention that defines a country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as extending 200 nautical miles (370 km) from its coast.
The Philippines has previously procured BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India—capable of reaching speeds of up to 3,450 km/h (2,140 mph).
India, which has had its own border clashes with China in the Himalayas, is part of the Quad alliance, along with the United States, Japan, and Australia. Beijing has often accused the grouping—originally proposed by former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe—of seeking to contain China’s rise.
