US, Philippines, Japan, Australia to hold joint military exercises in South China Sea

The four countries will conduct naval and air exercises on Sunday in a maritime area where Beijing claims almost total sovereignty.

The Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia announced on Saturday April 6 that they will organize joint naval and air exercises in the South China Sea on Sunday in the face of China’s growing influence in the region. The exercises will be held in a maritime area over which Beijing claims almost total sovereignty.

The four countries stressed that these military exercises will prove “collective commitment” allies “to strengthen regional and international cooperation in favor of a free and open Indo-Pacific region”. They will take place a few days before a summit which will bring together American President Joe Biden and the leaders of the Philippines and Japan in Washington.

Growing tensions between China and the Philippines

The exercises will include navy and air force units from the four countries, according to the joint statement. The four defense ministers stressed that these exercises “would strengthen the interoperability of [leurs] doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures. No details were given on how the exercises would take place. The Japanese Embassy in Manila said in a separate statement that the exercises would include a “training for combat against submarines”.

“These activities with our Australian, Japanese and Philippine allies underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail and operate where international law allows (…) Our joint operations support peace and stability at the heart of our shared vision of a free and open region. declared the American Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.

Last year, tensions increased in the region. China is more clearly asserting its claims to maritime zones also claimed by the Philippines and Japan, as well as to the autonomously governed island of Taiwan. After repeated incidents in recent months between Philippine and Chinese boats, Beijing has criticized the Philippines for stoking tensions in an area where the two countries have long-standing territorial disputes.