Philippine Navy Leads 11-Ship, 8-Nation ADMM-Plus Maritime Drills Off Zambales Near Scarborough Shoal; China Sits Out Sea Phase

The Philippine Navy's guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FFG-14) led the at-sea phase of an ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group on Maritime Security (EWG-MS) Joint Cooperative Activity off the coast of Zambales, near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, on September 23, 2026. Eleven vessels from eight countries took part: the Philippines (BRP Jose Rizal and landing dock BRP Tarlac), a US littoral combat ship, a Royal Australian Navy frigate, a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer (JS Ise), a New Zealand frigate and sustainment vessel, an Indian Navy frigate and corvette, a Singapore Navy littoral ship, and a Brunei patrol ship. The exercise included simulation drills, ship formations, a photo exercise, and a simulated medical evacuation using an AW-159 helicopter, framed as strengthening interoperability and practical cooperation in the maritime domain. China was present at the opening but did not participate in the sea phase. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said 'our collaboration and cooperation not merely in response but in early prepositioning, working together and in detection becomes more critical.'