In a first, India, Philippines stage joint naval drill in South China Sea

India and the Philippines have staged joint naval exercises in the disputed South China Sea for the first time, a high-profile military deployment that antagonised China.

- ASSOCIATED PRESS

Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen Romeo Brawner said Monday that the two-day joint naval sail and exercises which began Sunday went successfully, and expressed hopes that Filipino forces could engage India’s military in more joint maneuvers in the future.

Asked if Chinese forces carried out any action in response, Brawner said without elaborating that “we did not experience any untoward incident but we were still shadowed. We expected that already.”

Two Chinese navy ships, including a guided-missile destroyer, were spotted about 25 nautical miles from one of two Philippine navy frigates that participated in the joint sail Sunday, the Philippine military said.