The Philippines has increased its cooperation with traditional friends in the wake of rising tensions in the South China Sea, most importantly, two weeks ago at the fiercely disputed Second Thomas Shoal, and particularly, another violent incident.
In a traditional first, the South Eastern nation , conducted joint naval patrols , with the United States, Australia, and Japan in the contested waters, setting the stage for the development of a new” Rear” in the Indo- Pacific.  ,
The drilling saw the , Spanish Navy ship BRP , Antonio Luna , joined by Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force destroyer , Akebono, Royal Australian Navy frigate , Warramunga and US coastal fight ship , Mobile. In order to improve connectivity in the region, the four friends conducted communication and sector strategies exercises as part of their wider efforts to improve connectivity.  ,
A obvious indication of mutual efforts to push China out of Spanish waters, the plane drill that took place over the weekend took location within the Philippines ‘ 200- navigational- miles exclusive zone. The unprecedented drill was described by the Armed Forces of the Philippines ( AFP ) as part of the four allies ‘” commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific through interoperability exercises in the maritime domain.”
The United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines made it clear in a joint statement that they were determined to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and admiration for maritime right under international rules” in accordance with the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea.
Crucially, the maneuvers took place just before the first trilateral conference between Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Japanese President Fumio Kishida, and US President Joseph Biden.
As part of its “integrated punishment” approach against China, the Biden administration intends to institutionalize tighter security assistance with Japan and the Philippines.
For its element Tokyo is seeking to , improve its security ties with the US , as well as with the Philippines, which is , expected to sign , a Visiting Forces Agreement- design deal with Japan this week on the sidelines of the multilateral Japan- Philippine- US ( JAPHUS) summit in the White House.
China , has responded by warning , against Cold War- style regional military blocs, while the People’s Liberation Army ( PLA ) Navy , closely tracked , the recent quadrilateral exercises by the four allies.  ,
The situation is getting more and more explosive on the ground. For the third time in months, Chinese coast guard forces , employed water cannons , against Philippine Navy resupply vessels , that were en route , to the Second Thomas Shoal. During the incident, several Philippine service members were hurt, which raises the possibility of an unwarranted entanglement between the two rival claimant states.
The grounded BRP Sierra Madre vessel, which houses a detachment of Philippine marines, has been in direct control of the Second Thomas Shoal since 1999.
In response to the latest incident, the Philippine government summoned China’s envoy in Manila to communicate its” strongest protest” yet. For his part, Marcos delivered an unusually stern speech in which he warned China:  ,” We seek no conflict with any nation, more so nations that purport and claim to be our friends but we will not be cowed into silence, submission, or subservience. Filipinos do not yield”.
The Filipino , president added, ushering in a whole- of- nation approach to the maritime crisis:  ,” Over the succeeding weeks there shall be, implemented by the relevant national government agencies and instrumentalities, a response and countermeasure package that is proportionate, deliberate, and reasonable in the face of the open, unabating, and illegal, coercive, aggressive and dangerous attacks by agents of the China Coast Guard and the Chinese Maritime Militia”.
Marcos made it clear that key allies, especially Washington, had “offered to help us on what the Philippines requires to protect and secure our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction while ensuring peace and stability in the Indo- Pacific” and that he had “given them our requirements and we have been assured that they will be addressed” . ,
Just days later, the much- anticipated quadrilateral , Maritime Cooperative Activity , between the Philippines and its three top security partners took place in the South China Sea.  ,
Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara stated in a statement that the South China Sea issue is “directly related to the peace and stability of the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community” and that” Japan opposes any unilateral changes by force, such attempts as well as any actions that raise tensions in the South China Sea.”
According to Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, “respect for national sovereignty and agreed rules and norms based on international law underpin the stability of our region.” US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin referred to the quadrilateral exercises as a “our shared commitment to ensure that all countries are free to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows.”
In addition to regularized multilateral patrols, Marcos Jr. is banking on a new era of strategic cooperation with traditional allies to keep China’s maritme assertiveness in check.  ,
What kind of defense assistance and military equipment will the US provide the Southeast Asian nation, which has not yet obtained a cutting-edge fighter jet or warship from its long-standing treaty allies. However, Biden should immediately warn China against any unilateral actions against the Philippines and, in response, reiterate that Washington has defense commitments to Manila in the event of an armed conflict in the disputed waters.
Over the past few years,  , multiple , American administrations , have offered assurance , that any armed attack on Philippine troops, vessels and aircrafts in the South China Sea would automatically activate the Philippine- US Mutual Defense Treaty.  ,
In addition, Japan is expected to significantly expand its military ties with the Philippines through a new Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA ), which is anticipated to be signed shortly after the trilateral summit in Washington.  ,
Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Romualdez recently , confirmed news , of the pact, which has been under negotiation for several years across different Philippine governments.
The Japanese foreign ministry welcomed the soon-to-be-signed agreement as a significant step toward improving” the interoperability of the troops,” but he added that “it is not true that we are discussing deploying the Self-Defense Forces in the Philippines.”
Unklar is whether the Philippines will grant Japanese troops rotational access to crucial military installations. However, in the upcoming years, America’s oldest allies in Asia are poised to start conducting rapid joint exercises and transfer of advanced weapons systems.  ,
China has retaliated by accusing the US and its regional allies of stoking tensions by establishing new military blocs. Before the trilateral JAPHUS summit, Mao Ning, the head of China’s Foreign Ministry, stated that any defense cooperation between any nations should promote regional peace and stability. We oppose putting together exclusive groupings and stoking blockade in the area.
China is also claiming that the Philippines is to blame for escalating tensions by breaking an alleged “gentlemen’s agreement” ( ) that Manila allegedly promised to stop expanding resupply missions and/or strengthen its military detachment in the Second Thomas Shoal.
The Philippines has refuted any evidence that a similar non-binding agreement exists. And Marcos has made , it clear he would rescind , any such non- binding pact if his pro- Beijing predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, had indeed agreed to such an arrangement.
The biggest issue for China is, however, the prospect of an expanded US-Japanese military presence in northernmost Philippine bases, which are close to Taiwan’s shores, as well as the possibility of a more direct involvement by America in the South China Sea disputes, specifically the joint Philippine-US resupply missions to the Second Thomas Shoal.
So it makes sense that the upcoming confab in the White House will have all eyes on the same issues as the three allies.