Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

The Philippine and Japanese coast guards have conducted a joint maritime drill in the vicinity of Manila Bay. The exercise comes two days after an international tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines.

Foreign observers from Malaysia, Australia and the United States were present at the exercise. Japan hasn't made any territorial claims in the South China Sea but Tokyo has sent a number of vessels to the area this year. The scale and frequency has been rare for Japan's Self-Defense Forces.