In a significant display of unity and commitment to maritime security, the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines carried out their inaugural joint naval exercises in the South China Sea on Sunday. This cooperative effort, termed the Maritime Cooperative Activity, included anti-submarine warfare training and other strategic maneuvers.
The exercise, aimed at upholding the rule of law and safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific region, was underscored by a joint statement issued by the defense chiefs of the four nations. While not explicitly naming China, the statement reaffirmed the importance of respecting the 2016 international arbitration ruling, which invalidated Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Japan deployed its destroyer, the JS Akebono, to participate in the exercises, with Defense Minister Minoru Kihara emphasizing Japan's commitment to regional peace and stability. Similarly, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that the exercises demonstrate a shared commitment to upholding international law.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stressed the importance of respecting national sovereignty and international norms based on legal frameworks. Meanwhile, Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. highlighted the exercises as a critical step in enhancing the country's capacity for self-defense.
The South China Sea remains a focal point of tensions involving multiple nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The exercises, notably absent of China's participation, come amid heightened regional concerns following recent hostilities between Chinese and Filipino vessels near the Second Thomas Shoal.
The joint naval drills signal a concerted effort by the four allied nations to bolster regional security and deter unilateral changes to the status quo. With discussions on South China Sea disputes expected to feature prominently in upcoming high-level summits, including President Joe Biden's meeting with Japanese and Philippine counterparts, the region remains a key area of focus for international diplomacy and strategic cooperation.