In the past few hours, the navies of Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted joint training to reinforce regional and international cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and carry out a Maritime Cooperation Activity (MCA) within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Philippines.
This activity involved naval/maritime units and air forces from the respective countries to demonstrate interactions and enhance interoperability of doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures. According to various sources, it is part of the support these countries are providing to the Philippines amid threats from China in the Second Thomas Sholl area.
The MCA included anti-submarine warfare training and tactical, liaison, and photographic exercises. Participating in the MCA were the Philippine patrol vessels BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS-15) and BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16); the US Navy littoral combat ship USS Mobile (LCS-26); the Australian frigate HMAS Warramunga (FFH-152); and the Japanese destroyer JS Akebono (DD-108).
A statement from the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet adds that these four participating nations reaffirm their position regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Award as a final and legally binding decision for the parties involved.
Among key statements from officials, it was mentioned that Australia is committed to collaborating with its partners to maintain a rules-based world order, demonstrating a commitment to working together “to maintain a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.”
“Guided by the vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), Japan recognizes the vital importance of striving to realize an international order that is free and open based on the rule of law and ensuring regional peace and stability in cooperation with its ally, like-minded countries, and others. Japan believes that the issue of the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability of the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and the United States,” said Minoru KIHARA, Japan’s Minister of Defense.
You may also like: The Chinese Air Force conducted significant exercises near the contentious border with Myanmar
