US, Japan, Australia, Philippines Hold Joint Naval Exercises

A Filipino port worker looks as the Japanese Ship Akebono (DD-108), a Murasame-class destroyer of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, prepares to dock for a goodwill visit at Manila's south

Four nations, including the United States, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, are set to conduct their first joint naval exercises in the South China Sea. The exercises will feature anti-submarine warfare training and are aimed at demonstrating a unified front in response to Beijing's assertive actions in the region.

In a joint statement issued by their defense chiefs, the countries emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law, ensuring freedom of navigation, and maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific region. While China was not explicitly mentioned, the statement reaffirmed the significance of a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China's expansive territorial claims.