Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines held their first joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea on April 7. This joint training is positioned as the first "maritime cooperation activity" among the four countries.
The Philippines intends to promote the "institutionalization" of the four-nation joint military exercises and hold them regularly several times a year. Singapore's "Lianhe Zaobao" said that the timing of this exercise is eye-catching. China is unswervingly determined to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests.