Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Eslami: Our colleagues' morale at nuclear facilities excellent, carrying out their duties with dedication.
AEOI chief Eslami: Let the enemies know that this aggressive policy will never bear fruit.
AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami: Our people, the people of strength and pride, have not folded under pressure and will never surrender.
Israeli media: Warnings of a drone infiltration in southern [occupied] Golan.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: 11 martyrs, more than 100 injured in IOF bombing of aid seekers, central Gaza Strip.
Mehr News Agency: Cell was planning to execute terrorist operations in crowded areas in Tehran, their plan was foiled.
Mehr News Agency: Confrontations between security forces, gunmen thought to be connected to Israeli intelligence in Rey, south of Tehran.
Official in Varamin, southeast Tehran: Air defenses have destroyed another F-35.
Israeli Health Ministry: 94 injured taken to hospitals last night as a result of Iranian missiles.
Informed source to Al Mayadeen: Over 270 martyred since start of Israeli aggression on Iran

China proposes joint military drills with the Philippines

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Jul 2023 14:55
4 Min Read

The Philippine military chief announces that if they were to be conducted, the drills would not be in the South China Sea where the two countries have clashing territorial claims.

  • x
  • The national flags of the Philippines and China are seen together near the Tiananmen Gate as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits, in Beijing on Jan 3, 2023 (AFP)
    The national flags of the Philippines and China are seen together near the Tiananmen Gate as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr visits, Beijing on Jan 3, 2023 (AFP)

Amid heightened tensions over disputed waters, China has extended an offer to conduct joint military drills with the Philippines, according to the Philippine armed forces chief.

The proposal was delivered informally by Beijing's ambassador to Manila and will be thoroughly considered by Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner, who revealed the proposition late on Wednesday. However, Brawner clarified that if the joint exercises proceed, they will not take place in the contested South China Sea.

"We are opening up to any country who would like to help us," Brawner expressed to reporters in Manila. He emphasized that the Philippines is open to assistance from more modern countries in its efforts to counter insurgency. While discussing the potential for defense cooperation with China, Brawner underscored the country's willingness to collaborate with any nation that can aid its security objectives.

This move by China comes at a time when the Philippines is strengthening its longstanding defense alliance with the United States. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration has recently expanded American troops' access to Philippine military sites and hosted large-scale military exercises with the US earlier this year. As these defense ties with Washington deepen, China's offer for joint military drills presents an intriguing development in the region's geopolitical landscape.

The Philippines has long been vocal about its land dispute grievances with China, which has had severe implications for Filipino fishermen, as per the former.

In a recent incident, the Philippines claimed the presence of dozens of Chinese fishing vessels near an oil and gas-rich area within contested waters, which exacerbated tensions between the two countries and heightened concerns over maritime security in the region.

Read more: China warns Philippine-US base deal 'endangering regional peace'

Related News

China warns EU to stop ‘provoking trouble’ in South China Sea dispute

US Navy launches dual carrier ops. in South China, Philippine seas

Earlier in June, the Chinese Defense Ministry said Japan and the Philippines must refrain from making claims and carrying out actions that threaten China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights, and interests while aggravating the regional situation.

"China is a staunch defender and builder of international rule of law at sea. China has been committed to properly resolving disputes through negotiation and consultation. We urge relevant countries to stop harming China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and stop saying or doing anything that would further complicate the situation," The Defense Ministry spokesperson said in a briefing.

The spokesperson emphasized that "at present, the situation in the East China Sea and South China Sea is generally stable, but a certain country out of the region, for its selfish interests, has been busy muddying the waters through military provocation and bloc confrontation, which has exacerbated regional tensions."

In May, during a meeting between US President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, the two discussed the necessity of countering Beijing in the South China Sea. 

As China has been discussing the sovereignty of the South China Sea more openly and confidently, the US and its Asian allies have remained on high alert amid pre-existing tensions over Taiwan, further exacerbated by joint military exercises. 

Back in April the US and the Philippines conducted their largest-ever military training after troops conducted a joint fire drill in the contested waters of the South China Sea. Groups of the two armies blasted a supposed enemy warship placed in disputed waters North of Manila.

Marcos indicated and emphasized that he "will not allow the Philippines to be used as a staging post for any kind of military action."

Read more: Philippines President says Manila will not turn into 'staging post'

  • South China Sea
  • China
  • Philippines
  • military drills

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A Turkish Air Force pilot gestures from the cockpit of an F-16 military fighter jet before an Air Policing exercise at the Baza 86 military air base, outside Fetesti, Romania, Wednesday, March 6, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Israeli aircraft violate Turkish airspace, fighter jets scrambled

An Israeli occupation forces armored personnel carrier maneuvers in the Gaza Strip, southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian resistance downs Israeli drone in Gaza amid extensive ops

An Israeli Hermes 450 UAV drone flies over Beirut, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
Politics

Iran reports shooting down 28 types of hostile aircraft in 24 hours

Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze after a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran retaliatory strikes target greater Tel Aviv as injuries reported

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS