India on Monday conducted a naval drill with the Philippines in the South China Sea, five days after it conducted a similar exercise with Vietnam in the region. South China sea has been witnessing increasing Chinese military expansionism.
The Indian Navy deployed its guided-missile destroyer INS Ranvijay and guided missile corvette INS Kora in the exercise and the Philippine Navy was represented by its frigate BRP Antonio Luna, officials said.
“Two ships of the Indian Navy, INS Ranvijay and INS Kora, on deployment to the Western Pacific, carried out a maritime partnership exercise with BRP Antonio Luna of the Philippine Navy on Monday in the West Philippine Sea,” Indian Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal said.
He further said that the Navies of both the friendly countries are committed to enhancing collaboration in the maritime domain towards a collective aim of ensuring a stable, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
The defence and security cooperation between India and the Philippines is on an upswing in the last few years.
