South China Sea
Japan and Philippines sign new defense pact to strengthen ties
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Japan and the Philippines signed a new defense pact in Manila on Thursday. The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) facilitates the provision of supplies like fuel, ammunition, and food between their forces during joint exercises, aimed at deterring China's growing maritime assertiveness. Amid rising regional tensions, both nations emphasized upholding the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific.
The People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command's naval and air forces conducted combat readiness patrols around Huangyan Island and its surrounding areas on Saturday, five days after US-Philippine drills in the region. The patrols aim to counter infringements and provocations by certain countries while safeguarding China's territorial sovereignty and upholding peace in the South China Sea. The operation involved multiple aircraft and vessels, including H-6K bombers and frigates.
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Talks between Asean and China on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea aim to establish rules preventing incidents and easing tensions amid overlapping territorial claims. Originating in the mid-1990s from past clashes, such as the 1988 battle at Johnson South Reef and China's 1995 occupation of Mischief Reef, progress has been slow but targets completion by July 2026. Recent advancements include entering the third reading of negotiations in 2025.
A newly established U.S.-Philippine military task force aims to deter coercion in the disputed South China Sea and could expand to include allies such as Japan and Australia. Task Force Philippines represents a key step in strengthening bilateral ties. Experts indicate it may serve as the foundation for future multinational operations.
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The Armed Forces of the Philippines denied China's claim that its bombers patrolled the West Philippine Sea during last week's joint maritime drills with the United States and Japan. No such aircraft were detected by the military. This underscores ongoing tensions in the South China Sea.
The Philippines officially assumed the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on October 28, 2025, at the close of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. received the handover from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, setting the stage for Manila to host key meetings in 2026. Marcos expressed hopes to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to Manila if South China Sea code of conduct talks conclude successfully by then.
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A U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz crashed in separate incidents over the South China Sea on Sunday afternoon about 30 minutes apart. All five crew members were recovered in safe, stable condition, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.