Philippines, Australia, Japan, US set to conduct maritime activity on April 7

The Philippines, Australia, Japan, and the United States are set to conduct a joint maritime activity within the West Philippine Sea on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

In a joint statement released Saturday, the four nations' defense chiefs said the conduct of a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (EEZ) sought to "uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, and respect for maritime rights under international law, reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)."

The four nations' combined defense forces will jointly conduct the maritime activity "demonstrating our collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific."

"The Maritime Cooperative Activity will be conducted by naval/maritime and air force units in a manner that is consistent with international law as well as domestic laws and rules of respective nations, and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states," the statement read.

"It will also demonstrate professional interactions among naval/maritime and air forces," the statement added.

The conduct of the Maritime Cooperative Activity comes in the wake of harassment and water cannon attacks by the China Coast Guard against Philippine vessels on resupply missions to Ayungin Shoal within the Philippines' EEZ. Seven Filipino sailors were injured in two water cannon incidents last month.

Signatories in the joint statement include Philippines Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Japan Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, Australia Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austin III.

"Ultimately, the Maritime Cooperative Activity will strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures," the defense chiefs said.

The Philippines, Australia, Japan, and US defense chiefs added that they stand with all nations in safeguarding the international order—based on the rule of law—that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.

"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," the defense chiefs said.

Ship deployment

In a phone interview with reporters, Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Arsenio Andolong confirmed that the joint maritime activity will be a one-day event in "our EEZ in the West Philippine Sea."

The maritime activity will involve five ships, Andolong said, two of which are from the Philippines, namely the BRP Gregorio del Pilar and BRP Ramon Alcaraz.

Other participating ships include the United States' USS Mobile, Australia's HMAS Warramunga, and Japan's destroyer ship Akebono.

Kyodo news agency earlier reported that the four countries were planning anti-submarine drills in the South China Sea on April 7.

A separate statement from the Japanese embassy in Manila on Saturday confirmed that Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force has deployed the JS Akebono for the April 7 exercise. The embassy also indicated "anti-submarine warfare training" as among the various tactical trainings for the MCA.

Asked if the joint exercise would increase tensions with China, Andolong said, "it should not."

While he noted that the MCA would be conducted within the Philippines' EEZ in accordance with international law and in pursuit of the country's interest, Andolong said, "we expect China to malign the exercise as they always do."

GMA News Online has requested comment from the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding Andolong's statement and the conduct of the Maritime Cooperative Activity, but has yet to respond as of posting time.

'Series of activities'

Meanwhile, Teodoro noted in the joint statement that the Philippines is currently implementing its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC), which includes strengthening and deepening cooperation and interoperability with all nations, big and small, to maintain regional peace and stability, as well as good order at sea based on international law, principally UNCLOS.

"The series of bilateral and multilateral MCA is a step in building our country's capacity for individual and collective self-defense. This first in a series of activities demonstrates the enduring friendship and partnership among the peace-loving peoples of the Philippines, United States, Australia, and Japan," said Teodoro.

For his part, United States' Austin said "every country should be free to conduct lawful air and maritime operations."

"These activities 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. Our operations together support peace and stability at the heart of our shared vision for a free and open region," said Austin.

'Directly related' to peace

Marles, meanwhile, said that Australia has consistently emphasized the importance for all states to be able to exercise rights and freedoms, including freedom of navigation, in a manner consistent with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"This Maritime Cooperative Activity with our partners; the Philippines, Japan and the United States demonstrates our unwavering commitment to working together to maintain a peaceful, stable and prosperous region,” said Marles.

Japan's Kihara said that his country "has the vital importance of striving to realize a free and open international order" based on the rule of law and securing regional peace and stability in cooperation with its ally, like-minded countries and others.

"Japan believes that the issue concerning the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability of the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community including Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and the United States, and thus 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," Kihara said. — VDV, GMA Integrated News