PH , US, Canada, Australia to hold WPS joint military exercise

The Armed forces of the United States, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines are set to conduct a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) on Wednesday and Thursday.

In a joint statement, the defense and military chiefs of the four countries committed to enhance regional and international cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Our combined armed forces will conduct a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone on August 7 and 8, 2024,” they said.

The officials who made the joint statement include US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo, Australian Chief of Defence Force Admiral David Johnston, Canadian Chief of Defence Staff General Jennie Carignan, and Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo Brawner Jr.

They said they uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace.

According to them, they respect maritime rights under international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

They pointed out that their naval and air force units will operate together to enhance cooperation and interoperability between the armed forces of the four countries.

‘The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States,” they added.

Amid the tension in the WPS, the US, Australia, Canada, and the Philippines reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as final and legally binding to the dispute.

“We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order,” they said.

“Our four nations reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute,” they added. --VAL, GMA Integrated News