India, the United States and Japan will hold naval exercises in northern Philippines near the South China Sea this year. This move is likely to further raise tensions with China. The announcement comes a day after the US warned China against militarisation of the South China Sea, where Beijing is locked in a territorial dispute with several countries, saying there would be consequences. Admiral Harry B. Harris, head of the U.S. Pacific Command, said the naval exercise will be held in the northern Philippine Sea and that Japan will take part. Recalling the Joint Strategic Vision agreement reached upon by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama in 2015, Admiral Harris said that the two countries were committed to improve the security architecture in the region. Admiral Harris lauded India’s leadership in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Both India and the US later said these patrols were not imminent after Beijing warned that interference from countries outside the region threatens peace and stability.
