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“Ultimately, the Maritime Cooperative Activity will strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures,” a joint statement read.

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Philippine Coast Guard personnel keep watch from the deck of BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) patrol ship (R) while sailing around the Japan Coast Guard Akitsushima-class (PLH-32) patrol ship (L) during a search and rescue exercise in the South China Sea, on June 6, 2023. Francis R. Malasig, EPA-EFE

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<div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1712377459730MRRV-9702-epa-04062023.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Philippine Coast Guard personnel keep watch from the deck of BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) patrol ship (R) while sailing around the Japan Coast Guard Akitsushima-class (PLH-32) patrol ship (L) during a search and rescue exercise in the South China Sea, on June 6, 2023. Francis R. Malasig, EPA-EFE"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Philippine Coast Guard personnel keep watch from the deck of BRP Melchora Aquino (MRRV-9702) patrol ship (R) while sailing around the Japan Coast Guard Akitsushima-class (PLH-32) patrol ship (L) during a search and rescue exercise in the South China Sea, on June 6, 2023. <em>Francis R. Malasig, EPA-EFE</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong> — The Philippines will be participating in a Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea with Australia, Japan and the United States on Sunday, April 7, according to a joint statement released by the Department of National Defense.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The drills will involve maritime and air units from the four countries and will be done in a manner consistent with international and domestic laws and with regard to safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other states, the joint statement read.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Ultimately, the Maritime Cooperative Activity will strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures,” it also read.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. is quoted in the statement as saying that the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept “includes strengthening and deepening cooperation and interoperability with all nations” for regional peace and stability and for the safety and security of shipping under international law.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Maritime Cooperative Activity was announced shortly after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. issued an executive order reorganizing the country’s maritime security agencies to address “a range of serious challenges” to its territorial integrity and “the peaceful existence of Filipinos.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/1/imee-says-eo-creating-maritime-council-leads-to-dangerous-path-1555" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RELATED: Imee says EO creating maritime council ‘leads to dangerous path’</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">That change was prompted by increasingly aggressive actions by Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“We stand with all nations in safeguarding the international order — based on the rule of law — that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region,” the joint statement read.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">“Our four nations reaffirm the position regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/4/marcos-to-discuss-west-philippine-sea-issue-with-biden-1817" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">READ: Marcos to discuss West Philippine Sea issue with Biden</a></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">China, which rejected the arbitration case and ruling, claims a large portion of the South China Sea and has said that countries from outside the region should let claimants settle their issues themselves.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Beijing has accused the Philippines of increasing tension in the West Philippine Sea and of having journalists who embed in resupply missions to BRP Sierra Madre on Ayungin Shoal skew their reports to gain sympathy and to portray China in a bad light.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BatOHAA3mus?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><strong>&#x27;Part of commitment to free and open region&#x27;</strong></div><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the exercises among the four countries “underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p>He added that &quot;operations together support peace and stability at the heart of our shared vision for a free and open region.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/5/ph-japan-us-expected-to-agree-on-regular-maritime-exercises-2230" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RELATED: PH, Japan, US expected to agree on regular maritime exercises</a></div><p>Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, in the same joint statement, said that the country has “consistently emphasized” that states must be able to exercise their rights, including freedom of navigation under international law.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He said that the joint exercises demonstrate “our unwavering commitment to working together to maintain a peaceful, stable and prosperous region.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Philippines and Australia held <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/25/23/philippine-australian-ships-begin-maritime-cooperative-activity" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">a Maritime Cooperative Activity in November 2023.</a></p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru meanwhile said that his country views the South China Sea issue as “directly related to the peace and stability of the region and…a legitimate concern of the international community including Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and the United States.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">He said that Japan “opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by force, such attempts as well as any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea.”</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">Marcos Jr. flies to Washington DC next week for a trilateral summit with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">The Philippine government earlier said that the three leaders would discuss maritime and economic cooperation.</p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal"><br/></div><p style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal">They are also expected to release a joint vision statement that would identify &quot;concrete areas and projects for cooperation,&quot; including an &quot;alignment of views in the West Philippine Sea. <strong>— With Katrina Domingo, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div style="margin-bottom:0px;line-height:normal;min-height:15px"><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/X9wQo7vRhhw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>“Ultimately, the Maritime Cooperative Activity will strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures,” a joint statement read.</p>

PH, Australia, Japan, US to hold maritime exercise in West Philippine Sea

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PH, Australia, Japan, US to hold maritime exercise in West Philippine Sea

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Published Apr 06, 2024 12:24 PM PHT

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Updated Apr 06, 2024 02:54 PM PHT

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