In a move likely to intensify regional tensions with China, the navies of the Philippines and India have launched their first-ever joint patrols in the disputed South China Sea. The two-day operation began Sunday, just ahead of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s official visit to New Delhi.

The patrol includes three Indian warships, among them the guided missile destroyer INS Delhi, which docked in Manila late last week. The two nations began joint operations with at-sea replenishment drills and continued patrol activity in areas claimed by Beijing despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated China’s claims.

Strengthening Maritime Alliances

President Marcos hailed the patrols as a demonstration of “steadfastness in upholding international maritime law,” referring to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which grants sovereign rights within 200 nautical miles of a nation’s shores.

The operation underscores growing defence cooperation between Manila and its Indo-Pacific partners, including the United States, Japan, and Australia. It also signals New Delhi's increasing readiness to project naval power in contested waters far from its own coastline, amid its own border tensions with China in the Himalayas.

Focus on Deeper Strategic Ties

During Marcos’ state visit, Philippine and Indian officials are expected to sign agreements spanning law, culture, and technology. However, defence cooperation is expected to dominate the agenda. The Philippines has previously acquired BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles from India, an advanced weapons system with a top speed exceeding 3,400 km/h.

India is also part of the Quad alliance—alongside the U.S., Japan, and Australia—which Beijing accuses of forming a bloc to contain China.

This historic joint patrol between the Indian and Philippine navies marks a new phase in Manila's assertive maritime strategy and New Delhi's growing Indo-Pacific engagement.