The Philippine Navy and the Indian Navy will conduct a series of joint patrols in the South China as part of a maritime cooperative activity (MCA).
The Indian Navy contingent consisting of three ships of the Eastern Flotilla arrived in Manila on Wednesday, July 30. A series of goodwill activities will be held prior to the commencement of the MCA.
The participating Indian Navy ships include the Delhi-class guided-missile destroyer INS Mysore, the Kamorta-class anti-submarine corvette INS Kiltan, and the Deepak-class replenishment tanker INS Shakti.
The ships' arrival in the Philippines came after New Delhi expressed its increased support for Manila's efforts to modernise its military.
MCAs have been described as, “vital engagements between nations aimed at maintaining peace and stability in international waters,” the Armed Forces of the Philippines said in a press release.
The two-day MCA will commence on Sunday, August 3. It will be held near Scarborough Shoal, which the Philippines claims as within its jurisdiction in the South China Sea.
