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India and Philippines Conduct First Joint Naval Drills in South China Sea Amid Rising Tensions with China
India and the Philippines have conducted their first-ever joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, a significant military collaboration likely to draw criticism from China, which claims near-total sovereignty over the contested maritime region.
The two-day exercises began on Sunday and included coordinated sailing and operational drills between the Indian and Philippine navies. Filipino Armed Forces Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner confirmed on Monday that the exercises had proceeded without incident, despite the presence of Chinese naval forces.
“We did not experience any untoward incident, but we were still shadowed,” Brawner told reporters. He added that such surveillance was expected given China’s pattern of monitoring foreign military activity in the region.
The South China Sea remains one of the world’s most disputed maritime areas, with overlapping territorial claims by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Beijing’s sweeping claims over nearly the entire sea, based on its so-called “nine-dash line,” have been repeatedly challenged by its neighbors and ruled as inconsistent with international law by a 2016 arbitral tribunal decision.
While the Philippines has previously conducted joint maritime patrols with partners including the United States, Japan, Australia, and France, this marks the first time Manila has teamed up with New Delhi in the South China Sea. The move signals deepening defense ties between the two democracies and a shared commitment to uphold international maritime norms.
Brawner defended the timing and nature of the joint exercises, saying, “The Philippines has to be strengthened through modernization. That’s what we’re doing with India — partnering with like-minded nations.”
The drills precede a five-day state visit to India by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., where he is expected to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Talks will likely focus on expanding cooperation in defense, trade, agriculture, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and investment.
The growing strategic alignment between Manila and New Delhi comes amid deteriorating relations between the Philippines and China. Beijing has recently intensified its rhetoric, calling the Philippines a “troublemaker” and accusing it of aligning with foreign powers to challenge Chinese sovereignty.
“China never wavers in its resolve to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights,” said Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Colonel Zhang Xiaogang last week. “We will take resolute countermeasures against any provocations.”
Despite such warnings, the Philippines continues to engage international partners in maritime cooperation to assert its rights and ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea — one of the world’s most crucial trade arteries.
News
Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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