Japan, Philippines and US Launch Joint Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in South China Sea

Japan, the Philippines, and the United States began a joint Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) in the South China Sea on July 21, 2026, deploying naval vessels and aircraft through July 25 in a show of allied presence days after a China Coast Guard vessel struck a Philippine Navy sailor with a wooden baton near Second Thomas Shoal. The drills came as the Philippines and US announced more than 500 planned bilateral military engagements for 2026. China criticized the joint patrols as provocative, warning they risked "escalating tensions" in the disputed waters. The exercise concluded July 25 alongside the sidelines of the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Manila.