Allies from the US and Indo-Pacific Conduct Joint Maritime Exercises in the South China Sea

September 29, 2024 TruthUSA

China conducted military exercises in the disputed waters on the same day, following a discussion between Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his Chinese counterpart in New York.

The United States and four of its allies engaged in joint maritime drills in parts of the South China Sea on Saturday, coinciding with China’s military exercises in the same area.

The day-long exercise, involving the United States, the Philippines, Australia, and Japan, was held in Manila’s exclusive economic zone within the South China Sea, as per a statement from the U.S. 7th Fleet.

Vice Adm. Fred Kacher, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, stated, “Maritime cooperative activities accelerate our already strong allied and partner combat readiness and interoperability.”

Kacher emphasized that the joint drill demonstrates their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, building operational skillsets in one of the world’s most dynamic maritime regions.

The joint exercise came amid escalating tension in the region, with recent aggressive actions by China against neighboring countries like Taiwan, the Philippines, and Japan.

Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, highlighted the significance of the joint exercise.

“This underlines our shared commitments to uphold freedom of navigation, overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea and airspace, as well as maritime rights under international law, as outlined in the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”

Brawner mentioned that the U.S. Navy and other naval units participated in the joint exercise.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 28, emphasized Australia’s push for peace and stability in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan reported heightened Chinese military activity near the island recently, with numerous military aircraft detected in the vicinity.

China’s escalation of regional tensions included test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile into the Pacific Ocean. In response, Taiwan urged Beijing to exercise restraint and cease actions that disrupt peace and stability.

In parallel, China’s Southern Theatre Command announced routine air and naval drills around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, underscoring the involvement of countries outside the region in creating instability.

These drills came shortly after Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New York to discuss China’s actions in the South China Sea and maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Blinken reiterated concerns about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry and emphasized the need for China to address Russia’s threat to transatlantic security.

During a press conference, Blinken pointed out the material assistance provided by China to Russian military endeavors, contributing to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Blinken also engaged with Wang at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum in Laos in July.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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