Days after China-Philippines skirmish in South China Sea, Indian warship at Manila to bolster ties

Navy's INS Kadmatt is an anti-submarine warfare corvette equipped with state-of-the-art anti-submarine weapon suite. 'Enhancing cooperation & exchanging best practices' on agenda.

INS Kadmatt near Manila | Courtesy: Press Information Bureau (PIB)

New Delhi: Indian naval ship INS Kadmatt is on a visit to the Philippines, as part of the ongoing Long Range Op Deployment in the South China Sea (SCS). The exercise comes against the backdrop of a maritime standoff between China and the Philippines.

INS Kadmatt, an anti-submarine warfare corvette equipped with state-of-the-art anti-submarine weapon suite, arrived in Manila on 12 December. The visit, according to a statement by the Navy, is “aimed at bolstering maritime cooperation between India and the Philippines”.

The MoD said there are a “wide range of engagements between personnel of both the navies planned during the Port Call”.

“These include professional interactions, Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) and cross deck visits, aimed at enhancing cooperation and exchanging best practices. Visits by school children and community outreach/social impact activities are also planned during the visit,” it added.

Following the departure of INS Kadmatt from Manila, a Maritime Partnership Exercise is scheduled in the South China Sea between INS Kadmatt and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, an off-shore patrol vessel of the Philippine Navy.

This comes days after a spate of skirmishes between the Chinese and Filipino navies in the disputed South China Sea.

According to a statement by the Filipino Coast Guard, “China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous manoeuvres on Philippine civilian supply vessels” on 10 December. 

Statement of the National Task Force-West Philippine Sea
December 10, 2023, Manila, Philippines

Today, 10 December 2023, China Coast Guard (CCG) and Chinese Maritime Militia (CMM) vessels harassed, blocked, and executed dangerous maneuvers on Philippine civilian supply vessels,… pic.twitter.com/NF66BqVPUM

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) December 10, 2023

Manila has alleged that the Chinese Coast Guard deployed water cannons against two Filipino coast guard vessels and “rammed” the resupply boat they were accompanying.

The Filipino vessels were reportedly tasked with delivering provisions to a tiny garrison on the Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly islands — a hotly contested flashpoint between the two countries. General Romeo Brawner Jr., head of the Philippine military, was also onboard one of the Filipino vessels.

In a press conference later, Jonathan Malaya, spokesperson of the Philippines’ National Security Council, said, “This is a serious escalation on the part of the agents of the People’s Republic of China.”

However, this was not the first time China used water cannons against Filipino vessels undertaking resupply missions in the South China Sea. In August, the Philippines delayed a resupply mission by two weeks after claiming that its vessels had been subjected to water cannons.

The latest maritime confrontation comes less than a month after leaders of both nations met on the sidelines of an economic summit in San Francisco to formulate the way forward in the South China Sea.

(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)