The US carrier strike group conducted joint maritime drills with its Filipino counterpart in the volatile South China Sea as the Chinese Coast Guard’s ‘Monster Ship’ was lurking in the waters. In a riposte to the combat drills that Beijing sees as countries “ganging up” against it, it conducted joint maritime and air drills in the disputed waters.
This was 2025’s first maritime wargame between the Philippines and the US, and it saw the participation of the US Carrier strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson. The group consisted of the USS Princeton, USS Sterett, an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter, a V-22 Osprey helicopter, and two F-18 Hornets. The drills were spread over two days.
The Philippine Navy deployed the BRP Antonio Luna, BRP Andres Bonifacio, two FA-50 fighter aircraft, and Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue assets.
On January 17, the joint US-Philippine naval assets carried out a communications check exercise, division tactics/officer of the watch maneuver, and a photo exercise. The activities continued on January 18 with dissimilar aircraft combat training.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Romero Brawner said, “This is a result of our shared commitment and mutual effort to safeguard our national interests and secure a peaceful region.”
In the face of rising Chinese belligerence in the region, Washington has repeatedly asserted that the United States is obligated to defend the Philippines, one of its oldest treaty allies in Asia, if it is attacked. This is warranted under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty between the US and the Philippines. Washington lays no claim to the contested waters but has declared that freedom of navigation, overflight, and the peaceful resolution of the disputes is in its national interest.
