US, Japan, Australia and the Philippines to stage military drills in disputed South China Sea
Joint naval exercises in South China Sea by US, Japan, Australia, and Philippines to promote freedom of navigation and law in Indo-Pacific.
- Bilawal Riaz
- 1 min read
The United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines are set to conduct their first joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, focusing on anti-submarine warfare training. The purpose is to uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region. While China was not directly mentioned, the four nations reiterated their support for a 2016 arbitration ruling against China’s expansive territorial claims. The exercises come amid escalating tensions involving China’s territorial ambitions, with recent hostilities prompting concern and diplomatic protests between the countries involved.