Philippines and allied countries hold joint naval drills in disputed part of South China Sea

The Philippines held a one-day multilateral maritime activity with allied nations amid an ongoing territorial dispute with neighbouring China in the South China Sea.

Footage captured by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) shows the participating vessels sailing in a three-column formation in the West Philippine Sea - Manila's term for South China Sea waters within its exclusive economic zone - on September 28.

The drills included the Philippine Navy's BRP Antonio Luna (FF151), BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS35), an AW109 helicopter, and Philippine Air Force Search and Rescue (SAR) assets.

The AFP said the United States sent the USS Howard (DDG83) and two helicopters. Australia deployed the HMAS Sydney (D48), a P-8 Poseidon aircraft and one helicopter.

Japan, which also has territorial conflicts with China and Taiwan over the Senkaku Islands, dispatched the JS Sazanami (DD113), while New Zealand sent its HMNZS Aotearoa (A-11).

AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr. said in a statement: 'This underscores our shared commitments to upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.'

China's People's Liberation Army also carried out aerial and naval exercises in the contested Scarborough Shoal on the same day.

Philippine officials said a record 251 Chinese vessels were located in the West Philippine Sea following the departure of the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the largest ship in the PCG's arsenal, from the Escoda Shoal on September 15. The Filipino crew had endured weeks with barely any food and water after Chinese vessels allegedly blocked Philippine resupply missions.

Expansionist China has disputes with nearly all of its neighbours as it currently lays claim over almost the entire South China Sea, one of the world's busiest sea lanes. But a United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 deemed its claims groundless.

The Communist rogue state - accused of genocide for its crimes against the Uyghur population - has been steadily increasing its influence in recent years through investment in developing countries.