South China Sea: US, Philippines, Japan, Australia to hold naval drill on Sunday amid China’s aggressive actions

Name: Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint
Uploaded: 2024-04-02T23:00:16.000Z
Duration: 1 min 49 s
Description: Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint

It would be the first full-scale exercise involving the countries aimed at enhancing interoperability among their forces, amid China’s aggression

In August, the same four countries conducted joint training on offshore replenishment off the northwest Philippines

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A Chinese coastguard ship, top, tries to block a Philippine government vessel at the disputed South China Sea on March 21. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard via AP

Kyodo

Published: 7:00am, 3 Apr 2024Updated: 8:06am, 3 Apr 2024

Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines are set to hold a joint naval exercise on Sunday off the Southeast Asian country’s Palawan Island in the South China Sea, multiple government sources said on Tuesday, amid China’s continuing aggressive actions.

It would be the first full-scale exercise involving the four countries aimed at enhancing interoperability among their forces, the sources said. The exercise will include anti-submarine warfare training, communication drills and sailing ships in formation.

In August, the same countries conducted joint training on offshore replenishment off the northwest Philippines. Their crews simply exchanged salutes and assembled for a photo exercise.

Sunday’s planned drill would occur against the backdrop of China’s assertiveness in the resource-rich South China Sea. The latest incident happened on March 23 when the Chinese Coast Guard fired a water cannon at a Philippine vessel on a mission to the Manila-controlled Second Thomas Shoal.

The vessel was heavily damaged in the incident, while Filipino servicemen aboard were injured.

Since last year, the Philippines has held separate “maritime cooperative activities” with the United States and Australia, which have agreements for visiting forces.

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Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint

The Royal Australian Navy’s frigate Warramunga arrived in Palawan for a port call ahead of the joint exercise, with Commander Jennifer Graham paying a courtesy call on the Philippine military commander in the area, a Philippine source said.