China has stood by its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, clashing with its neighbors and drawing in the U.S., Manila’s treaty ally.
Positioning Marines forward in the Indo-Pacific is part of the Corps’ plan for countering a potential adversary as technologically adept as China.
Two Philippine boats breached a Chinese coast guard blockade in the South China Sea to deliver food and other supplies to a contested shoal.
The drill will underscore their commitment to the rule of law in the region after recent Chinese aggression, Filipino security officials said.
Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 wound up delivering 64,000 pounds of food and water.
Chinese coast guard ships fired a water cannon and blocked two Philippine navy-chartered civilian boats taking supplies to the Philippine forces.
The Philippine military condemned a Chinese coast guard ship's use of a water cannon to block a Filipino supply boat in the disputed South China Sea.
The full details of the request, which remains under negotiations, have not been made public.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong also says her country is considering whether to take part in joint patrols in the disputed South China Sea.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made the rounds in Washington seeking to deepen the alliance amid concerns over Chinese aggression.
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