The United States, France, and Japan are holding joint military exercises involving aircraft carriers in the Philippine Sea. The Philippines has also signed military agreements with Canada and more countries, all aimed at a common adversary – the Chinese Communist Party, to maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
From February 8 to 18, the “Pacific Steller 2025” joint exercise, organized by France, is taking place in the Philippine Sea. The US Navy’s USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier strike group, the French Navy’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier strike group, and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force’s refurbished aircraft carrier the Izumo are participating in the exercise.
According to a statement from the US Seventh Fleet, the joint exercise aims to enhance coordination and cooperation among the maritime forces of France, Japan, and the United States, showcase multi-domain operational capabilities, promote a shared commitment to regional stability, and highlight the enduring power projection capabilities of the US Navy.
US Navy Rear Admiral Michael Wosje, commander of the First Carrier Strike Group, stated in a press release: “Our combined actions strengthen our alliances and deter our adversaries. We are working together to uphold an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific free from coercion of any form, and we are delighted to work together with allies and partners who share our vision.”
French aircraft carrier strike group commander Vice Admiral Jacques Mallard stated in a press release: “While France is a resident country in the Indo-Pacific region, it has been a long time since we have deployed an aircraft carrier battle group to this area. Undoubtedly, Pacific Steller will elevate the interoperability of our three naval forces to a new level, a challenge we are eager to take on with our Japanese and American partners.”
Mallard also emphasized the significance of France’s participation, being 6000 kilometers away from its home base.
Despite being in Europe, France has several overseas territories in the Indo-Pacific region, including Reunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and Southern and Antarctic Lands in the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 2 million French citizens reside in the Indo-Pacific region. France also has over 7,000 troops in overseas territories, Djibouti, and the UAE.
Canada may also join these joint exercises. On the evening of February 7, Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman mentioned that negotiations for a “Military Visiting Forces Agreement” with the Philippines are in the final stages, enabling substantive participation in joint and multilateral training exercises and operations with the Philippines and its regional allies.
Speaking on the Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Ottawa in Manila, Hartman stated that the frigate would participate in upcoming joint exercises near the Philippines.
Hartman reiterated that the Philippines strongly opposes the provocative and unlawful actions of the Chinese Communist regime in the South China Sea and West Philippine Sea, stating, “We will continue to do so.”
Canada signed a defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines last year. Another agreement signed in Ottawa in 2023 allowed the Philippines access to Canada’s “dark ship detection system,” utilizing satellite technology to track illegal vessels even when they turn off their position transmission devices. The Philippine Coast Guard had previously accused Chinese Coast Guard ships and fishing vessels of turning off their position transmitters in the South China Sea to avoid detection and monitoring.
Currently, the Philippines has signed visiting forces agreements with the United States and Australia, providing a legal framework for the temporary visits of foreign forces and large-scale combat exercises.
In July last year, the Philippines also signed a similar agreement with Japan, pending approval by Japanese legislators. Additionally, the Philippines is in negotiations with France and New Zealand for defense agreements.
On February 4, the Philippine and US Air Forces conducted a “joint cruise” exercise in the South China Sea. Three Philippine FA-50 fighter jets and two US B1-B bombers participated in the exercise, which included flying over Scarborough Shoal.
Philippine Air Force spokesperson Maria Consuelo Castillo stated that the two treaty allies carried out a one-day joint exercise in the West Philippine Sea to enhance operational coordination, increase airspace awareness, and strengthen the agile combat capabilities between the two air forces.
Manila refers to the West Philippine Sea as the waters within its exclusive economic zone.
On the same day in the airspace of Scarborough Shoal, the Chinese Air Force also conducted a so-called “routine cruise.”
Li Jianjian, spokesperson for the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese Air Force, released a statement on his WeChat account claiming that the Philippines’ engagement with foreign organizations for the joint cruise is “intended to disrupt” the peace and stability in the South China Sea region, and the Southern Theater Command’s Air Force remains on high alert.
The previous day, the Philippine Navy forces encountered Chinese warships in the nearby waters of Northern Luzon.
In a statement, the Northern Luzon Navy stated that while conducting “routine maritime and sovereignty patrols” in the West Philippine Sea, they spotted three Chinese naval vessels in the area. The Philippine vessels “issued warnings and continuously issued radio challenges to the three Chinese naval vessels.”
The statement further mentioned that the presence of Chinese naval vessels in the region reflects the Chinese regime’s complete disregard for international law, disrupting peace and stability in the area.
The South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, a critical hub for international trade and energy transport. It is estimated that over $3 trillion in trade passes through this sea annually, accounting for one-third of global shipping volume.
It is believed that the region also holds significant underwater oil and natural gas resources.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. However, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam also assert overlapping sovereignty claims. In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a ruling rejecting China’s sovereignty claims based on historical maps, stating that they lack international legal basis.
The Chinese authorities do not acknowledge this ruling and have constructed artificial islands in the South China Sea, equipped with airstrips and other military infrastructure. Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia frequently clash with ships from claimant countries, especially in the Sino-Philippine disputes in the South China Sea in recent years, escalating tensions.
After Trump’s reelection, the new US Secretary of State reiterated to the Philippine Foreign Minister during a call that the US’s defense commitment to the Philippines is “ironclad.” The US also does not recognize China’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea.
The South China Sea could become a potential flashpoint for US-China military competition and is a core area for the US global strategic concept of Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs).