On August 4, 2025 local time, the Philippine military publicly released footage of the first joint exercise between the Philippine Armed Forces and the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, which took place on August 3-4 in the South China Sea. According to reports, the exercise area included Masinloc in Zambales Province and Lupon Kabra Island in Occidental Mindoro Province, basically covering the eastern part of the South China Sea. According to the Philippine military's report, the Philippine Navy deployed frigates Jose Rizal and Miguel Malvar, while the Philippine Air Force deployed an patrol and rescue aircraft and a C-208B surveillance reconnaissance aircraft. The Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet deployed the Delhi-class missile destroyer, equipped with eight Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missiles, the Kiltan anti-submarine frigate, and the Shakti supply ship.

Reuters screenshot, India and the Philippines' first South China Sea cruise

According to the Philippine military's report, the exercises between the Philippine military and the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet included air defense drills, beyond visual range targeting exercises, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and maritime replenishment exercises. Regarding the joint exercises between the Philippine military and the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command stated, "From August 3 to 4, the Chinese People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command Navy conducted regular patrols in the South China Sea." "The Philippines is luring external countries to interfere in the South China Sea," "the theater forces remain highly vigilant and resolutely safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." It is reported that the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet conducted its first live-fire artillery training in the South China Sea, intercepting simulated targets with shipboard air defense guns.

Indian Navy Eastern Fleet conducting artillery training in the South China Sea

First joint exercise between the Indian Navy and the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea

The Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet has apparently colluded with the Philippines

At the same time, the Philippine side reported that on August 4, the Chinese Coast Guard ships 5303 and 4203 patrolled near the Huangyan Island, with the Chinese Coast Guard ship 5303 located outside the nine-dash line near the Huangyan Island. According to the Philippine Coast Guard's report, the Chinese Coast Guard ship 5303 was about 39 nautical miles (approximately 35 nautical miles) from the northeastern part of the Buluan Island in Sulu province, directly approaching the doorstep of the Philippines. The Philippine Coast Guard deployed the Teresa Mabano patrol ship to monitor and drive away the Chinese Coast Guard vessel, but the Philippine patrol ship ended up being driven away by the Chinese Coast Guard ship. Seeing the strength of the Chinese Coast Guard, the Philippine Coast Guard patrol ship was scared off. Obviously, the Chinese Navy and the Chinese Coast Guard are fully prepared to respond to the provocative activities that the Philippine authorities are preparing to launch after getting support from India.

Philippine Coast Guard's photo of the Chinese Coast Guard warships approaching the Philippines' doorstep

The Chinese Navy dispatched a 052D destroyer and a 054A frigate in the South China Sea to track and monitor the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet: On August 5 local time, a Philippine journalist reported that when the Philippine Navy and the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet were conducting a "joint cruise" in the South China Sea, Chinese Navy vessels were monitoring them within visual distance. From the video publicly released by the Philippine journalist, the Chinese Navy deployed a 052D destroyer and a 054A frigate. This is the first time the Philippines has confirmed that the Chinese Navy has dispatched vessels to track and monitor the Philippine Navy and the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, confronting the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet.

Philippine journalist's public image of the Chinese Navy's 052D destroyer and 054A frigate monitoring and tracking the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet

Philippine journalists aboard a Philippine Navy frigate captured images of the Indian Navy's supply ship and frigate

It seems the Philippines has received support from India

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines plans to visit India in August. The Indian and Philippine navies will also conduct joint exercises east of the Huangyan Island and along the western coast of the Philippines. According to the Philippine side, this is part of the Philippines' efforts to rally international forces to support itself in the South China Sea. The Indian Navy's Delhi-class destroyers are equipped with eight Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missile launch tubes, clearly indicating that the Indian Navy intends to use the Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missiles to confront the Chinese Navy's Shandong aircraft carrier battle group in the South China Sea.

Philippine military equipped with Indian-made Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missiles

The Chinese Navy dispatched a 052D destroyer and a 054A frigate to monitor the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet. For the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, the treatment is not low. Because the combat capability of the Indian Navy's Delhi-class destroyer is not as good as the Chinese Navy's 056 frigate. However, in terms of tonnage, it is indeed the 052D destroyer compared to the Indian Navy's Delhi-class destroyer.

The combat capability of the Indian Navy's Delhi-class destroyer is not as good as the Chinese Navy's 056 frigate

What is the significance of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet ships coming out? What threat can they pose to China? U.S. tariff sanctions against the Philippines and India are just to urge them or other countries to do something. The Chinese Navy's 055万吨 big destroyer should also go for a tour in the Indian Ocean! As the main force of the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet, the Delhi-class destroyer has come to the South China Sea several times. The Delhi-class destroyer is a new ship built by India, but due to its high center of gravity, it cannot sail far. We can also cruise in the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Andaman Sea, because we can directly conduct live-fire exercises near the Huangyan Island or the waters off the Luzon Island, which is more effective than anything else.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534931572005290531/

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