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The US and three of its allies, Japan, Australia and the Philippines, have announced a joint military exercise in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, potentially raising tensions with Beijing.
The US-led group will hold a "maritime cooperation activity", its first in a series of joint exercises, on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the defense chiefs of the four countries.
The one-day naval exercise will include communication activities and surveillance maneuvers in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, Philippine defense ministry spokesman Arsenio Andolong told reporters.
The exercise will involve naval and air forces and will be held in waters claimed by China and the Philippines.
"These activities with our allies Australia, Japan and the Philippines underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, navigate and operate wherever international law allows. Our operations together support the peace and stability at the heart of our shared vision of a free and open region," US Defense Chief Lloyd Austin said in a statement.
The announcement comes after the US and Chinese militaries held talks in Hawaii earlier this week, their first such meeting since 2021, to discuss security measures to avoid dangerous incidents when their forces operate in close proximity.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense emphasized that it "resolutely opposes any action that endangers its sovereignty under the guise of freedom, navigation and flight".
The four nations have reaffirmed their position that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Court Award is final and legally binding.
The naval activity comes days before a summit between the leaders of Japan, the US and the Philippines, which will include a discussion of recent incidents in the South China Sea.
Since taking power in 2022, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has maintained closer ties with the U.S. and other Western countries and adopted a tough line against what he sees as Chinese hostility. departing from his predecessor's pro-Beijing stance. / Reuters
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