US, Allies to Conduct Naval Drills in Philippines
- Tenions rise between Manila and Beijing in disputed waters
- China said it will conduct sea and air patrols on the same day
Members of the Philippine Coast Guard during a joint maritime exercise with Coast Guards from Japan and the US off the coast of Mariveles, Bataan, the Philippines, in June 2023.
Photographer: Veejay Villafranca/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The US, Australia, Japan and the Philippines will hold joint military drills in the South China Sea on April 7 amid heightened tension between Manila and Beijing in the disputed waters.
In a joint statement, the four nations’ defense chiefs said their combined armed forces will conduct a maritime cooperative activity within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone to strengthen interoperability. The southern division of the Chinese Liberation Army will organize a maritime and air patrols on the same day, according to a statement Sunday.