The combined defence and armed forces of the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will conduct “maritime cooperative activity” to support a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Philippines’ defence ministry said on Saturday.
Naval and air force activities will be conducted within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone on April 7, the defence ministry said in a joint statement.
The activity will strengthen the interoperability of the countries’ armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures, the statement read.
The four nations reaffirm their position that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award is final and legally binding.
The maritime activity will happen days before a trilateral summit between the leaders of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines in Washington that will include a discussion of recent incidents in the South China Sea.
The Philippines and China had several maritime run-ins in March that included the use of water cannon and heated verbal exchanges, and have triggered concern about an escalation at sea.
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Regional tensions in the region have been on a high in the region and escalated as China has become increasingly confident in asserting its claims over waters also claimed by the Philippines and Japan, as well as over self-ruled Taiwan.
This has led to the United States strengthening its alliances in the region, including with treaty allies Japan and the Philippines.
Recently, the Philippines government has announced measures to protect the country’s sovereignty and maritime rights in order to ensure stability in the region.
In a post on X, Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Junior said, “Over the course of these past days, I have met with and spoken to our country’s National Security and Defense leadership. They have made their considered recommendations and, through exhaustive consultations, I have given them my directives.
I have also been in constant communication with representatives of relevant allies, partners, and friends in the international community.”
The government will implement proportionate and reasonable measures against “illegal, coercive, aggressive, and dangerous attacks” by China’s coast guard and maritime militia in the South China Sea, he added.
With inputs from Reuters
