By Saadet Gokce
ISTANBUL (AA) — The militaries of the Philippines, Japan, the US, and Australia conducted rival naval drills against a separate exercise by China in the disputed South China Sea on Wednesday, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The “multilateral maritime cooperative activity” aims to “strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-pacific,” said AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.
It marks the sixth time the four countries held a joint maritime drill. The first was last April.
"This activity will be conducted in a manner consistent with international law and with due regard for the safety of navigation, and the rights and interests of other States," said the AFP.
It added that the Philippines' commitment "to upholding the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace," emphasizes the "respect for maritime rights under international law."
China in response called the drills a "so-called 'joint patrol' creating instability in the South China Sea," and accused Manila of "eroding China's legitimate maritime rights and interests."
Senior Col. Tian Junli of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater said China has conducted a "routine patrol" and "will remain on high alert to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."
The Philippines and the US also recently held joint patrols in the disputed South China Sea, prompting China to call it a destabilizer for the region.
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea involve conflicting islands and maritime claims in the region by several states, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.