Manila, Dec 6 (EFE).- The defense forces of the Philippines, the United States and Japan carried out joint military maneuvers on Friday in the South China Sea waters that are claimed by both Manila and Beijing.
“The combined armed and defense forces of Japan, the Philippines, and the United States, demonstrating a collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, conducted a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone,” the US Indo-Pacific command said in a statement.
The aim of the exercise was to “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect to the maritime rights under international law,” the statement added.
The exercise came just two days after the Philippine coastguard accused Chinese patrol boats of firing water cannons and ramming their boats at Scarborough Reef.
Meanwhile, China claimed the Philippines attempted to “invade” its territory.
Tension between the two countries has been increasing in recent years due to their sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, through which around 30 percent of global trade passes and which accounts for a significant amount of the world’s marine wealth, including potential energy deposits.
Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. became president in 2022, the Philippines has been more assertive in defending its territorial claims against China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea.
Although the US is not directly involved in the territorial dispute in the region, it is obligated to come to the Philippines’ aid in case of any military conflict due to a mutual defense pact between the two countries. EFE
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