By Focus | 2025-10-23

The Philippines hosted the 12-day Sama Sama multilateral naval exercise from October 6 to 17, bringing together forces from the United States, Japan, Canada and France in waters off Western Palawan, between the Sulu Sea and the South China Sea.

Derived from the Tagalog word for "together," Sama Sama underscores cooperation and shared defense readiness among like-minded nations facing an increasingly tense maritime environment.

This year's exercise, held under the Philippine navy's newly established Western Naval Command (WNC), aimed to enhance coordination and interoperability within the country's western Exclusive Economic Zone. The drills came amid growing Chinese assertiveness in nearby contested waters.

Building joint capabilities

Throughout the drills, participating navies conducted live-fire gunnery, antisubmarine and antiaircraft exercises; cyber warfare simulations and Surface Action Group vs. Surface Action Group tactical engagements that tested the groups' maneuvering and battle‐coordination skills.

The drills included replenishment-at-sea approaches and air defense and combined antisubmarine training, "all aimed at reinforcing coordination and enhancing readiness in joint maritime defense scenarios," the Philippine News Agency reported.

Sama Sama 2025 fielded one of the largest combined flotillas in Philippine maritime exercises this year under Naval Task Force Group 44.1, USNI News reported.

Participating warships included the USS Cincinnati (LCS-20), Canada's HMCS Max Bernays (AOPV-432), BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS 16), BRP Valentin Diaz (PS 177), BRP Lolinato To-Ong (PG 902) and Japan's JS Ōnami (DD 111).

Naval aircraft joined the training, such as a Philippine BN-2 Islander, a US Navy P-8A Poseidon and a French Falcon 50M maritime surveillance jet.

Observers included Australia, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Italy and New Zealand.

"The training helped broaden the experience of troops and test new weapons, equipment and operational systems," said Commodore Francisco C. Cacho, exercise director of Sama Sama 2025, as quoted by Palawan News. "It also provided an opportunity to identify areas that need improvement -- from planning to execution."

The Philippine navy "continues to demonstrate its unwavering commitment to regional cooperation and joint maritime readiness," Lt. Juliet Saldasal, acting WNC spokesperson, said, according to the Daily Tribune.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) joined this year's exercise to enhance cooperation and tactical proficiency with partner nations.

The JMSDF participated to help realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific," strengthen operational ties and improve its tactical capabilities through anti-surface warfare and tactical maneuvering exercises, the Japanese Defense Ministry said.

China's countermove

As Sama Sama drew to a close, China's Maritime Safety Administration announced a "military training" exercise on October 17 near Scarborough Shoal, a site of frequent confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels.

The shoal is called Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines.

The notice restricted navigation within an area southwest of the shoal for a few hours, according to the South China Morning Post.

China's move followed a series of mid-exercise incidents. On October 15, a Philippine reconnaissance aircraft reported "aggressive interference" by a People's Liberation Army Navy helicopter and a J-16 fighter jet during a routine patrol over Scarborough Shoal.

Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the actions posed "a clear and unacceptable risk to the safety of PCG personnel and the journalists embedded on the mission."

Earlier, on October 12, Chinese coast guard and militia ships reportedly used water cannons against Philippine Bureau of Fisheries vessels near the Spratly Islands, another hotspot in the South China Sea dispute.

Strategic message

The timing of China's drills underscored its intent to assert its presence near Philippine-led operations, say analysts, but regional observers view Sama Sama as a powerful symbol of solidarity.

Since its inception in 2017, Sama Sama has evolved from basic maritime security training into a complex, multi-domain exercise combining combat, humanitarian and disaster response elements.

By integrating air, sea and cyber components, the 2025 iteration reinforced the Philippines' capacity to operate alongside allies and to project deterrence amid persistent tensions in the South China Sea.