MANILA: Indian Navy warships have begun patrolling areas of the disputed South China Sea with their Philippine counterparts for the first time, Manila’s military said Monday.
The two-day sail includes three Indian vessels and started Sunday, a day ahead of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos’ scheduled trip to New Delhi for talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Philippines has heightened defense cooperation with a range of allies over the past year after a series of clashes in the contested waterway.
Beijing claims nearly the entirety of the South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
India’s naval vessels arrived in Manila for a port visit late last week.
