Joint Maritime Exercise in the South China Sea
On April 7, 2023, Japan, the United States, the Philippines, and Australia conducted a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea. This exercise coincided with China's own patrols in the same area.
The participating vessels included the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Akebono, the U.S. Navy littoral combat ship Mobile, and Australian and Philippine frigates. This large-scale exercise, described as the "first multilateral maritime cooperative activity" by the group, was seen as a response to China's increasingly assertive actions in the strategic waterway.
The exercise took place in the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and included communication drills, a passage near the Ayungin Shoal, and planned anti-submarine warfare training. The Ayungin Shoal has been a site of tension, with Chinese vessels accused of harassing Filipino ships.
In a joint statement, the four countries affirmed their "right to freedom of navigation and overflight, and respect for maritime rights under international law." This statement is widely interpreted as a move by the United States and its allies to strengthen defense cooperation in response to China's land reclamation and militarization activities in the Spratly Islands.
The exercise concluded successfully on April 8, as announced by Philippine Armed Forces chief Romeo Brawner Jr. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the exercise would contribute to deterring conflict with China.
Meanwhile, on April 7, China's military conducted its own joint air and sea patrol in the South China Sea. The Chinese Southern Theater Command, responsible for the region, announced that the patrol aimed to address military activities disrupting regional stability and potentially causing conflict.
The Philippines, with limited naval resources, views defense cooperation with the United States and its allies as crucial in countering China's growing influence in the region. The first-ever Japan-U.S.-Philippines trilateral summit is scheduled to take place in Washington on April 11, further solidifying this strategic partnership.