US, Japan, Australia and Philippines to hold South China Sea exercises

The Defence forces of the US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will conduct "maritime cooperative activity" on April 7 to support a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China's growing assertiveness in the waterway.

The countries said on Saturday.

The one-day maritime exercises will involve communication activities and officer of the watch manoeuvres in Manila's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, Philippines' defence ministry spokesperson Arsenio Andolong told reporters.

Littoral combat ship USS Mobile, Australian frigate HMAS Warramunga and Japanese destroyer JS Akebono will join two Philippine warships, Andolong said.

"They will go from the south to the north, encompassing the boundary of the western and northern command," he said.

The joint statement said the activity will strengthen the interoperability of the countries' armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures.

The four nations have reaffirmed their position that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award is final and legally binding.

The maritime activity takes place 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, Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has pursued warmer ties with the US and other Western nations and adopted a tough line against what he sees as Chinese hostility, turning away from his predecessor's pro-Beijing stance.

The Philippines and China had several maritime run-ins last month, including the use of water cannons and heated verbal exchanges, which have triggered concern about an escalation at sea.

China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, which rankled neighbouring countries that dispute some boundaries they say cut into their exclusive economic zones.

Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam have competing claims of sovereignty in portions of the South China Sea, a passage through which $3 trillion (AED 11 trillion) in goods move every year.