PH, US eye joint maritime activities with other countries in South China Sea 'later this year' —Austin

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday said the US and the Philippines are planning to hold maritime activities with other countries in the South China Sea later this year.

“The commitments that we made today will further integrate our strong bilateral ties into multilateral networks including with Japan and Australia,” said Austin at a joint press conference with Philippine officials on this year's Balikatan exercise. 

“And we discussed plans to conduct combined maritime activities with like-minded partners in the South China Sea later this year as we work to enhance our collective deterrence,” he added.

In a statement, Pentagon Press Secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said Austin and Philippine Defense chief Carlito Galvez Jr. noted recent “concerning operational behavior and gray-zone activities in the South China Sea.”

Ryder said the two officials made a commitment to regularize combined maritime activities in the South China Sea.

“The two leaders discussed opportunities to conduct a joint US-Philippines sail in the South China Sea during Exercise BALIKATAN, which commenced on April 11 and is the largest and most complex iteration of the exercise to date, featuring more than 17,000 participating troops,” he said.

He added that Austin and Galvez will meet again on Wednesday to discuss core defense initiatives in greater detail.

Galvez was asked if there are concerns that the Balikatan and other exercises as well as the steps taken by the US with other partner countries would generate a dangerous response from China.

“The Balikatan Exercise is in its 38th iteration and we're doing Balikatan yearly,” Galvez said.

“We don't expect any violent reaction considering that these exercises are intended for our collective defense with the US and other allies,” he added.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reiterated Washington's commitment to stand with the Philippines against any "intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea."

On Monday, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said the joint exercises between the Philippines and the US should not interfere with the disputes in the South China Sea.

"Exchange and cooperation between relevant countries should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability," Wang said at a press conference.

"The US-Philippines military cooperation must not interfere in South China Sea disputes, still less harm China’s territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests," he added. 

China also recently expressed concern over the four new additional Philippine military facilities that US forces will be given access to under the two countries' Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. —VAL, GMA Intergated News.