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Raissa Robles

The Philippines has expressed confidence in countering China’s widening influence in contested waters as its navy presses ahead with expanding its fleet, joint activities with foreign partners and the use of unmanned systems.
Analysts say these measures would boost the interoperability of the Philippine military across the sea and air, as the South China Sea dispute continues to dominate its security planning.
“We are up to the challenge [posed by] … the People’s Liberation Army Navy, Chinese coastguard and maritime militia, which is towards the integration of their respective forces” in 2026, navy spokesman Roy Vincent Trinidad said during a briefing on Tuesday.
According to Pitz Defense Analysis, the navy is expected to double its fleet size from nine vessels in 2023 to at least 18 by 2028. These additional vessels will include two guided missile corvettes and at least six offshore patrol vessels.

Manila’s preferred warship supplier is HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, according to Zona Militar news website. It has ordered 10 warships from the South Korean company, starting with two frigates in 2016, two patrol ships in 2021 and six offshore patrol vessels in 2022.
Hyundai made its first delivery in 2020 with a 2,600 tonne (2,860 ton) missile frigate, named the BRP Antonio Jose Rizal, followed by another frigate the following year, the BRP Antonio Luna.
Rear Admiral Trinidad said the navy this year would see “more bilateral and multilateral maritime activities with like-minded nations” all year round.
“We now have five strategic partners or SOVFAs (Status of Visiting Forces Agreement) with other countries – the US, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Canada – with more coming up.”
Apart from a SOVFA, the Philippines is the only Asean country with whom the US has a Mutual Defence Treaty that requires either country to come to the other’s defence if attacked, provided this has the backing of its legislature.


Last year’s approval of the Reciprocal Access Agreement by the legislatures of Japan and the Philippines has opened a broad avenue of engagement between the army, air force and navy of the two former warring nations.
Manila is also currently considering an offer from Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force to accept an Abukuma-class destroyer escort. One of the six destroyers – which The Japan Times said was commonly referred to as guided-missile frigates – would be retired by next year.
If the deal goes through, this would mark the nation’s first used warship export in decades, according to the Japanese newspaper. But first, it would still have to hurdle Tokyo’s highly restrictive export policy for lethal weapons.
Communication is key
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Manuel Mogato, who has covered defence and security for decades, underscored the importance of multilateral cooperative activities (MCAs) with foreign partners.
“The Philippines is not used to operating modern ships,” he said, because for decades it made do with hand-me-down rickety World War II era vessels.
Sea exercises with the modern ships of the US, Japan and Australia would not only rapidly build up the navy’s experience but also provide a “seamless” manner of operating together, he said.
One of the most important aspects of MCAs was “how you communicate with the others”, he said, through radio, electronics, semaphore or flag signalling or lights blinking out messages using the old-fashioned Morse code.
All three countries “use the same communication systems” as the Philippines, which helped interoperability, the navy’s overall operations spokeswoman Marissa Martinez told This Week in Asia.
Canada has also been very active not only in joining the annual Balikatan or shoulder to shoulder multilateral military exercises but also in MCAs, according to Martinez.

Navy public affairs office chief Commander Marie Angelica Sisican told This Week in Asia that Canada’s interest lay in maintaining the global trade routes that passed close to the Philippine archipelago.
Captain Martinez said that the Philippines’ geographically strategic location allowed it to practically control the trade route access to and from the South China Sea.
One way of extending and expanding the navy’s maritime domain awareness was by building and operating its own unmanned surface vessel units or sea drones, initially for intelligence and surveillance, she added.
The navy had built its own Naval Research Training and Development Centre for drones and was drawing from the experience and knowledge of experts from Ukraine and the United States, she said. The US experts “also help train our people”.
Building up the navy takes money, but despite the unprecedented massive investment in war material, which in previous periods had earned public criticism for diverting state resources needed for education and public infrastructure, the trust rating of the Armed Forces of the Philippines remains high.
In a Tugon ng Masa survey conducted by private pollster Octa last July, 81 per cent of adult Filipinos wanted the military to defend the country’s maritime rights while 82 per cent expressed satisfaction over its performance.
This is up from the 65 per cent of a similar Octa survey in 2023 in which respondents even backed “military action”, meaning increased naval patrols and troop presence in the country’s maritime territory.


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The Philippines

Philippine navy confident it can navigate South China Sea dispute: ‘up to the challenge’

Chinese coast guards use a water cannon against a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea on October 12, 2025. Photo: China Coast Guard/Xinhua

Personnel aboard the BRP Jose Rizal lead a precision communication exercise between the Philippines and Indian navies in the South China Sea on August 3, 2025. Photo: Armed Forces of the Philippines Public Affairs Office/AP

A China Coast Guard vessel deploys a water cannon towards a Philippine fishing boat near Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea on December 13, 2025. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard/AFP

Philippines to get up to US$3.5 billion defence aid to counter ‘serious threats’

US and Filipino soldiers fire a howitzer during the annual joint “Balikatan” military exercises in Aparri, Cagayan province, Philippines in May. Photo: Reuters

Republican Senator Roger Wicker speaking at a committee hearing in Washington in 2022. Photo: TNS

US President Donald Trump meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr at the White House in Washington in July. Photo: EPA

US and Philippine soldiers attend the opening ceremony of the annual US-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercise at a camp in Manila in April. Photo: AFP

Hanwha combat systems deal deepens South Korea’s role in Philippine defence

Hanwha Systems Combat System (CMS) in a simulated anti-submarine warfare scene. Photo: Hanwha Systems


A rendered image of Hanwha Systems’ naval combat management system. Photo: Hanwha Systems

Visitors view a mock-up of an unmanned marine system by South Korea’s Hanwha at the Asian Defence and Security Exhibition in Manila on September 25, 2024. Photo: AFP

Philippines investigates claims of Chinese dredger using ‘30 identities’

A Philippine Coast Guard patrol vessel sails along Manila Bay on December 16, 2025. Photo: AFP

Philippine Coast Guard personnel man the deck of a patrol vessel along Manila Bay. The coastguard says it is investigating 27 dredging vessels, 23 in Manila Bay and four in Zambales. Photo: EPA-EFE

Undocumented Chinese nationals seen inside a dredger vessel seized near the mouth of Manila Bay in November 2024. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard

Philippine lawmakers say US move on Venezuela complicates Manila’s rules-based stance

Protesters hold signs outside the US embassy in Manila on Monday during a rally opposing Washington’s military action in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: EPA-EFE

Protesters hold a banner outside the US embassy in Manila on Monday during a rally opposing Washington’s military action in Venezuela following the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro. Photo: EPA-EFE

Leila de Lima, a Philippine lawmaker and former justice secretary, speaks to the media in Manila on May 19. Photo: EPA-EFE

Philippine lawmaker Antonio Tinio speaks at a rally in Manila in April 2024 calling for an independent foreign policy. Photo: Raissa Robles

Philippine military backs ‘rule of law’ after ex-general arrested over sedition

Romeo Poquiz was detained at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila after returning from a Bangkok holiday on Monday. Photo: Handout

Romeo Poquiz (centre) is arrested on a sedition charge on Monday at Manila’s international airport. Photo: Handout

Shortly after his arrest, Poquiz stated on social media that the charge was “clearly intended to harass and intimidate” him. Photo: Handout

This Week in Asia

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Southeast Asia

Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters


Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters.


Philippine navy confident it can navigate South China Sea dispute: ‘up to the challenge’

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters

Manila is banking on modern ships and global alliances to challenge China’s increasing presence in the contentious waters