US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin REUTERS
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines, Australia, Japan and the United States will hold a “maritime cooperative activity” (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) today to “support a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the allied countries said in a joint statement on Saturday.
The one-day joint exercise to be held in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) will be conducted in a manner “consistent with international law as well as domestic laws and rules of respective nations,” the statement said, adding that the exercises will observe “safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states.”
There was no disclosure yet as of Saturday where in the West Philippine Sea the exercise will be held.
READ: PH, US begin 2-week joint naval exercises
The four countries said the MCA serves to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight and respect for maritime rights under international law, [as] reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).”
“Our four nations reaffirm the position regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute,” they also said, referring to the Philippines’ arbitral victory which upheld its exclusive economic zone after it brought that arbitral case against China before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2013.
Antisub drills?
In an interview with reporters, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said the MCA would include communication exercises, division tactics and officer of the watch maneuvers.
Taking part in today’s drills are the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz, littoral combat ship USS Mobile, Australian frigate HMAS Warramunga and Japanese destroyer JS Akebono, Andolong said.
But he would not confirm earlier reports by Japanese news agency Kyodo that the four countries would also hold antisubmarine drills.
“The antisubmarine exercise is not in my information,” Andolong said.
At any rate, he said “we expect China to malign the exercise as they always do,” but noted that the drills should not complicate tensions with Beijing since these would be held within Manila’s EEZ, “in accordance with international law and established norms in pursuit of our national interest.”
‘Commitment’
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said the joint drills “with our allies Australia, Japan, and the Philippines 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 the MCA shows the “firm commitment” among the allied nations to work for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said issues regarding the South China Sea are “directly related to the peace and stability of the region and a legitimate concern of the international community.”
“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 added.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said today’s activity is part of the government’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, which is being developed with the Philippines’ allies to maintain regional peace and stability and a “good order at sea,” in accordance with international law. —WITH A REPORT FROM REUTERS