The U.S. and the Philippine militaries conducted joint maritime activities amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) held the third 'Maritime Cooperative Activity' (MCA) on February 9 to 'bolster regional security and stability'.

Footage shows the Philippine Navy's BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15) and AW109 Helicopter (NH434) travelling together with the U.S. Navy's USS Gabrielle Giffords amid the joint drills in the South China Sea.

AFP spokesman Colonel Margareth Padilla said: 'What we are testing here is our communication and photo operations. We are demonstrating our commitment to open closer Indo-Pacific cooperation between different armed forces.'

In a statement, the AFP added: 'The MCA has become a routine activity for both Filipino and U.S. militaries to continuously enhance interoperability through the conduct of maritime security and maritime domain awareness operations. Among the events held were communication exercise, photo exercise, and division tactics or Officer of the Watch Maneuver.'

The maritime cooperative activity is the third joint patrol between the U.S. and the Philippines in the highly disputed South China Sea.

China 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.