The Philippines, the United States, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand have joint maritime activities in the South China Sea.

In a statement on September 28, the Australian Department of Defence said: "Maritime cooperation demonstrates our shared commitment to enhancing regional and international cooperation to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo- Pacific region."

The statement added that the Navy ship HMAS Sydney and the Royal Australian Air Force's P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft operated with partner nations to enhance "cooperation and interoperability between armed forces".

Ships travel through the Taiwan Strait. Photo: AP

On the same day, the Japanese Ministry of Defense announced that five countries, including Japan, the United States, and the Philippines, had held a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea. The destroyer Sazanami of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force participated in the exercise.

The exercise took place after the destroyer Sazanami became the first Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel to transit the Taiwan Strait, alongside naval ships from Australia and New Zealand on September 25. The Australian Department of Defence said the move demonstrated Australia's commitment to an open, stable, and prosperous Indo- Pacific region.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, Nikkei Asia)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/philippines-my-uc-nhat-ban-new-zealand-co-hoat-dong-hang-hai-chung-o-bien-dong-post314525.html