The Philippine Department of Defense confirmed on Saturday that military forces from the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will conduct a “maritime cooperative activity” to support the maintenance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Sharjah 24 – Reuters:
Military forces from the United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will conduct a “maritime cooperative activity” to support a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the Philippine Defense Department said on Saturday.
In a joint statement, the ministry added that the naval exercises will be held for one day within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea on April 7.
The statement said that this activity will enhance the joint effort of doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures of the armed forces of the four countries.
The four countries reaffirm their position that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitration Court decision is final and legally binding.
The court had said that Beijing’s claims about its historical rights in the South China Sea had no legal basis, and added that there was no evidence that China had historically exercised any exclusive control over the waters or resources in the region.
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2024-04-06 06:44:49
