They say that there is strength in numbers. The Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia are therefore preparing to test their cohesion. They announced that they would organize joint naval and air exercises in the South China Sea on Sunday April 7 in the face of Beijing’s growing influence in the region. The maneuvers will take place in a maritime zone over which the Chinese giant claims almost complete sovereignty. An event which occurs a few days before a summit which will bring together, in Washington, American President Joe Biden and the leaders of the Philippines and Japan.
“Our combined defense forces and armies will hold a maritime cooperation activity in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone on April 7, 2024,” the four countries said in a joint statement released on Saturday. They stressed that this will demonstrate the allies’ “collective commitment” to strengthening regional and international cooperation towards a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The exercises, dubbed “Maritime Cooperation Activity,” will include navy and air force units from the four countries, according to the joint statement.
The four defense ministers stressed that these exercises would “strengthen the interoperability of our […] doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures.” No details were given on their conduct. The Japanese embassy in Manila said in a separate statement that the exercises would include “anti-submarine combat training.” Earlier this week, the Australian warship HMAS Warramunga arrived in the Philippine province of Palawan (west), which borders the South China Sea.
“Common commitment”
For years, the maritime zone of the China Sea has been disputed between many countries. China claims 80%, but the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei reject this version and want to assert their rights to this area. Last year, regional tensions intensified. “These activities with our Australian, Japanese and Philippine allies underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail and operate where international law allows,” said the US Secretary of State. Defense, Lloyd Austin, in the joint statement. “Our joint operations support peace and stability at the heart of our shared vision of a free and open region,” he added.
After repeated incidents in recent months between Philippine and Chinese boats, China has criticized the Philippines for stoking tensions in an area where Beijing and Manila have long-standing territorial disputes. On December 9 and 10, 2023, China and the Philippines accused each other after a collision at sea and water cannon fire. A similar incident took place last October. “Dangerous and irresponsible.” This was the caption of the photo, last October 23, on the front page of Philippine Daily Inquirer. On March 28, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos affirmed that Manila would not “allow itself to be reduced to silence, submission or enslavement” by Beijing in a particularly firm statement after a clash with the Chinese coast guard during in which three Filipino soldiers were injured.
Thus, the tectonic plates are moving in Asian geopolitics. Negotiations between the Philippines and Japan for a defense pact that would allow both countries to deploy troops on each other’s territory are “still ongoing,” a Philippine Department of Defense spokesperson said. foreign Affairs. Manila has already reached a similar agreement with Australia and the United States. For his part, Joe Biden is trying to reaffirm American influence in this region with the objective of isolating China diplomatically. While Xi Jinping and Joe Biden discussed several points of difference on April 2, tensions remain numerous between the two heads of state.