US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines to stage military drills in disputed South China Sea

MANILA – The United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will cling their first joint naval workout routines, together with anti-submarine war coaching, in a display of power Sunday in the South China Sea the place Beijing’s competitive movements to assert its territorial claims have led to alarm.

The 4 treaty allies and safety companions are retaining the workout routines to safeguard “the rule of law that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region” and uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, they stated in a joint observation issued through their protection chiefs Saturday.

China was once no longer discussed through title in the observation, however the 4 nations reaffirmed their stance {that a} 2016 international arbitration ruling, which invalidated China’s expansive claims on ancient grounds, was once ultimate and legally binding.

China has refused to take part in the arbitration, rejected the ruling and continues to defy it. The Philippines introduced its disputes with China to global arbitration in 2013 after a hectic sea standoff.

There was once no rapid remark through China.

Last 12 months, the Chinese Foreign Ministry warned in opposition to military exercises involving the United States and its allies in the disputed waters harming its safety and territorial pursuits.

“We stand with all nations in safeguarding the international order based on the rule of law that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region,” the four nations said but did not provide specific details of the military drills, called the Maritime Cooperative Activity.

Japan said in a statement, issued by its embassy in Manila, that it would deploy its destroyer, the JS Akebono, for the South China Sea exercises, which would include anti-submarine warfare training and other military maneuvers.

“Japan believes that the factor regarding the South China Sea is immediately similar to the peace and steadiness of the area and is a valid fear of the global group together with Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and the United States,” Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara stated in the observation.

“Japan opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by force, such attempts as well as any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea,” he said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated in a separate observation the workout routines “underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows.”

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said “respect for national sovereignty and agreed rules and norms based on international law underpin the stability of our region.” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. stated the military drills on Sunday can be the first in a chain of actions to construct the Philippines’ “capacity for individual and collective self-defense.”

Aside from China and the Philippines, the long-simmering disputes in the South China Sea, a key global trade route, also involve Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. But skirmishes between Beijing and Manila have particularly flared since last year.

Washington lays no claims to the strategic seaway but has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend its longtime treaty ally the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

China has warned the U.S. not to intervene in the disputes, which have sparked fears of an escalation into a major conflict that could involve the two world powers.

Japan has separate territorial disputes with China over East China Sea islands. Increasing tensions in the disputed waters would be high on the agenda when President Joe Biden hosts his Japanese and Philippine counterparts in a summit at the White House next week.

In the latest hostilities last month, the Chinese coast guard used water cannons that injured a Filipino admiral and four of his navy personnel and heavily damaged their wooden supply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal. The cannon blast was so strong it threw a crewman off the floor but he hit a wall instead of plunging into the sea, Philippine military officials said.

The Philippine government summoned a Chinese embassy diplomat in Manila to convey its “strongest protest” in opposition to China. Beijing accused the Philippine vessels of intruding into Chinese territorial waters, caution Manila no longer to “play with fire” and announcing China would proceed to take movements to shield its sovereignty.