Manila: In the midst of escalating tensions between Manila and Beijing in the contested waters of the South China Sea, the United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines have announced their intentions to conduct joint military exercises on April 7 in the South China Sea.
In a joint statement, the defense chiefs of the four nations declared that their combined armed forces would engage in maritime cooperative activities within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, aimed at enhancing interoperability.
According to a joint statement from Manila’s Defence Ministry, naval and air force exercises will take place within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone on April 7. The stated objective of these activities is to strengthen the interoperability of the armed forces of the participating countries in terms of doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures.
Additionally, the four nations reiterated their stance that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award is final and legally binding. The planned maritime exercises come just days before a trilateral summit between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines in Washington, where recent incidents in the South China Sea will be discussed.
The Philippines and China experienced several maritime confrontations in March, involving the use of water cannons and heated verbal exchanges, raising concerns about a potential escalation at sea. The Chinese embassy in Manila did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
