South China Sea drills address regional security concerns.
The U.S., Japan, Australia, and the Philippines are conducting inaugural joint naval exercises called the Maritime Cooperative Activity, featuring anti-submarine warfare training in the South China Sea. The four treaty allies and security partners said in a joint statement that they intend to uphold the “rule of law as the cornerstone for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.”
While not naming China, the nations reaffirmed their support for a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated China’s expansive territorial claims. The four nations said, “We stand with all nations in safeguarding the international order based on the rule of law that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.”
The statement comes amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, particularly highlighted by China’s rejection of the arbitration ruling and continued defiance.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretaries Austin and Del Toro as they evaluate the situation in the Indo-Pacific.
- For Admiral John Aquilino as he heads the U.S. Navy’s Indo-Pacific Command.
Sources: Military.com, Department of Defense
