The United States has deployed a coast guard ship to the South China Sea, where China claims sovereignty over most of the waters, to conduct operations with its Philippine ally.
Newsweek has reached out to the Chinese Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Why It Matters
China maintains a strong coast guard presence in the South China Sea, where its sovereignty claims—based on what it calls historic rights—overlap with those of neighboring nations, including the Philippines, which has been a U.S. defense treaty ally for more than 70 years.
The U.S. Coast Guard‘s Western Pacific deployment coincides with its ongoing mission to secure the U.S. southwest border by stopping the flow of illegal migrants and drugs at the sea, following President Donald Trump‘s declaration of a national emergency in January.
What To Know
The U.S. Coast Guard said in a Facebook post on Friday that USCGC Stratton, a 4,600-long-ton displacement Legend-class national security cutter homeported in Alameda, California, is currently deployed and assigned to the Destroyer Squadron 15 under the U.S. Seventh Fleet.
The U.S. Seventh Fleet is a forward-deployed fleet based in Japan that maintains America’s naval presence in the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Destroyer Squadron 15 has nine assigned destroyers, a U.S. Seventh Fleet spokesperson previously told Newsweek.
“With over 150 years of U.S. Coast Guard operations in this vital region, we’re ramping up efforts to enhance maritime security and national defense,” the U.S. Coast Guard explained.
Meanwhile, photos released by the U.S. Coast Guard show the Stratton at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in late April as it prepared for its Western Pacific patrol. It later visited the island of Guam, the U.S.’s westernmost territory in the Pacific, before departing for patrol on May 10.
On Friday, the Stratton arrived in Puerto Princesa City, on Palawan Island in the Philippines, for a four-day visit, the U.S. Embassy in Manila announced, adding that the port call was aimed at strengthening the partnership between the American and Philippine coast guards.
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines
Palawan Island, the westernmost Philippine province, borders the South China Sea to the west. Chinese coast guard ships have been operating near the island, staging shows of force.
Following the visit, the U.S. Coast Guard ship will conduct an exercise with the Philippine Coast Guard and Navy in the Sulu Sea, east of Palawan Island, according to the embassy. The drill will involve maritime law enforcement, as well as search and rescue operations.
What People Are Saying
The U.S. Coast Guard said: “Through strategic patrols with national security cutters, fast response cutters, and collaborative activities, we’re committed to strengthening regional partnerships and ensuring safe, secure waters for all.”
The Philippine Coast Guard said: “The [USCGC Stratton‘s] port call highlights the ongoing efforts to strengthen the bilateral partnership between the United States and the Philippines.”
U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson said: “The arrival of the USCGC Stratton is a moment of pride and possibility.”
What Happens Next
The next stop in the Stratton‘s deployment is Japan, where it is scheduled to take part in the second trilateral coast guard drill between the U.S., the Philippines, and Japan since June 2023.