Philippines, US, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand to Conduct Joint Maritime Activities in South China Sea, Reports Reuters

MANILA (Reuters) – Australia and the Philippines announced that their militaries will engage in a joint maritime exercise alongside Japan, New Zealand, and the United States within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, an area known for its geopolitical sensitivity.

“The Maritime Cooperative Activity showcases our shared dedication to enhancing regional and international collaboration to promote a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” stated Australia’s Department of Defence on Saturday.

The HMAS Sydney, a navy ship, and a Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will collaborate with the allied nations to improve “cooperation and interoperability among our armed forces,” the statement continued.

This joint exercise follows a series of air and naval encounters between the Philippines and China, which have been in dispute over areas in the South China Sea, including the Scarborough Shoal—a highly contested site occupied by China’s coast guard for over a decade.

On Wednesday, naval vessels from New Zealand and Australia navigated through the Taiwan Strait, a segment of the South China Sea. Australia’s Department of Defence indicated that this maneuver underscores the nation’s commitment to a free, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

China asserts ownership over the democratically governed Taiwan and maintains that it solely exercises sovereignty over the strait, while both the U.S. and Taiwan maintain that it is an international waterway crucial for global trade.

Australia continues to advocate for peace and stability in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, as noted by Foreign Minister Penny Wong during her address to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday.

Wong also expressed support for the resumption of dialogue between U.S. and Chinese leaders and military officials.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, despite competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, causing frustration among its neighbors.