Previous US-Philippine-Japanese maneuvers in the South China Sea (Reuters)
The United States, Australia, Japan, and the Philippines announced on Saturday their intention to hold the first joint naval and air military exercise in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, in what appears to be a show of unity in the face of Chinese maritime influence.
A joint statement by the defense ministers of the four countries - seeking to confront Beijing's influence in the region - stated that the joint exercises are planned to begin tomorrow, Sunday.
The statement stated that the reason behind conducting the joint exercises in the waters - which were considered to belong to the Philippines - was to demonstrate "the collective commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation to support a free and open region in the Indo-Pacific."
The maneuvers by the forces of the four countries in the South China Sea - over which Beijing claims almost complete sovereignty - come days before US President Joe Biden holds the first tripartite summit with the leaders of the Philippines and Japan.
Earlier this week, the Australian warship Waramonga arrived in the waters of the Philippine province of Palawan Islands, which lies across the disputed waters.
Regional tensions in the region escalated last year with China's increasing claim to sovereignty over the South China Sea, which is also claimed by the Philippines, Japan and Taiwan.
In response, the United States sought to strengthen its alliances in the region, and also held its first meeting with the defense ministers of the Philippines, Australia, and Japan last June, as well as signing treaties with them.
China's influence is increasing in the resource-rich South China Sea, and in the most recent incident, the Chinese Coast Guard used water cannons against a Philippine ship near the disputed shoals late last month.
Source: Agencies