India-Philippines Naval Exercise

Source: HT

Context: India and the Philippines conducted their first-ever bilateral joint naval drill in the South China Sea, marking a significant step in maritime cooperation amid rising tensions in the region.

About India-Philippines Naval Exercise:

• Purpose: To enhance maritime cooperation and interoperability between the two navies, and to assert freedom of navigation in contested waters.

• Location: Conducted within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea over two days.

• Indian Naval Assets: INS Delhi (guided missile destroyer) INS Shakti (fleet tanker) INS Kiltan (anti-submarine warfare corvette)

• INS Delhi (guided missile destroyer)

• INS Shakti (fleet tanker)

• INS Kiltan (anti-submarine warfare corvette)

• Significance: A symbolic counter to China’s assertive nine-dash line claim. Reinforces India’s Act East Policy and regional partnerships under the “Necklace of Diamonds” strategy. Boosts defence diplomacy and freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs).

• A symbolic counter to China’s assertive nine-dash line claim.

• Reinforces India’s Act East Policy and regional partnerships under the “Necklace of Diamonds” strategy.

• Boosts defence diplomacy and freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs).

About South China Sea:

• What it is? A marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest and most contested maritime regions.

• A marginal sea of the western Pacific Ocean, the South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest and most contested maritime regions.

• Located in: South of mainland China; stretches from the Taiwan Strait in the northeast to the Strait of Malacca in the southwest.

• Neighbouring Nations:

• China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia. Subject of overlapping EEZ claims, especially due to China’s controversial “Nine-Dash Line”.

• China, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia.

• Subject of overlapping EEZ claims, especially due to China’s controversial “Nine-Dash Line”.

• Physical Features:

• Area: ~3.68 million sq. km Depth: Max depth of 5,016 m at the China Sea Basin Prominent Islands/Shoals: Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, Macclesfield Bank, Scarborough Shoal Major Rivers Draining into the Sea: Pearl River (China) Red River (Vietnam) Mekong River (Vietnam)

• Area: ~3.68 million sq. km

• Depth: Max depth of 5,016 m at the China Sea Basin

• Prominent Islands/Shoals: Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands, Macclesfield Bank, Scarborough Shoal

• Major Rivers Draining into the Sea: Pearl River (China) Red River (Vietnam) Mekong River (Vietnam)

• Pearl River (China)

• Red River (Vietnam)

• Mekong River (Vietnam)