MANILA, Philippine: The Philippines has launched two days of joint sea and air exercises with the United States, Canada, and Australia, underscoring their commitment to regional stability and a free Indo-Pacific.
The drills, conducted within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, aim to enhance multilateral maritime cooperation and demonstrate a unified stance on maritime rights and freedom of navigation.
This exercise comes amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea. China has dismissed a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated its claims, exacerbating fears of potential conflict involving the US.
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Last week, the Philippines conducted separate naval drills with the US and Japan in the South China Sea, and a joint coast guard exercise with Vietnam is scheduled soon. The recent agreements with the US and Japan reflect Manila’s strategic pivot to strengthen military alliances in response to regional pressures.
The current maritime and air exercises, involving naval and air force units from the participating nations, focus on improving operational cooperation and interoperability. This multilateral effort highlights a collective commitment to uphold maritime rights as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open and lawful use of international waters and airspace.
