Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the U.S., from August 7 to 8, conducted military drills within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone, to uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea and international airspace, as well as respect for maritime rights under international law, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
In a statement, the four allies said the military drills were a demonstration of the collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The naval and air force units of the participating countries will operate together, enhancing cooperation and interoperability between the armed forces.
The statement added: “We stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order. Our four nations reaffirm the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute.”
China insists on sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, which is rich in fishing stocks, oil and gas, and is also a key global trade route. The South China Sea holds immense importance for China due to its economic, strategic, and geopolitical significance.
In 2016, China rejected an international arbitration ruling which stated it has no legal basis for the expansive claims. China refuses to accept this 2016 UNCLOS ruling, of which it is a State Party to UNCLOS, and dismissed the ruling as “nothing more than a piece of waste paper”. Apart from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims.
In recent months, there were numerous confrontations between the Philippines and China, primarily at the Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal. Notably, Chinese ships were using water cannons against Filipino boats.
As a global superpower which is determined to displace the U.S. and to upend the current international rules-based order, China’s efforts to establish control over the South China Sea reflect its aspirations to secure access to vital resources, protect maritime interests, and assert influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S., Australia strengthen military ties amid China’s coercive actions
On August 6, U.S. secretary of defense Lloyd J. Austin III, U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken, and their Australian counterparts, deputy prime minister and minister of defense Richard Marles and minister of foreign affairs Penny Wong, met in Annapolis, Maryland, for the 34th Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations, to strengthen two countries’ cooperation and reaffirmed a common determination to preserve stability, prosperity, and peace in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
In a statement, the two countries said they “support a stable and open international system that protects each nation’s ability to make sovereign decisions free from coercion or threats of force.” They expressed concern about China’s dangerous and escalatory behavior toward Philippine vessels lawfully operating within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, and stated that China’s excessive maritime claims in the South China Sea are inconsistent with international law. They opposed unilateral actions to change the status quo by force or coercion.
The U.S. and Australia noted China’s recent unsafe and unprofessional encounters with naval vessels and aircraft that were exercising freedom of navigation and overflight, as established under international law. They reiterated their strong opposition to destabilizing or coercive unilateral actions in the maritime domain, including in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, which increase tensions and undermine peace and stability.
In order to ensure an Indo-Pacific that is open, stable, peaceful, and prosperous; that promotes and protects human rights, and that is respectful of sovereignty and international law, the U.S. and Australia encouraged China to engage constructively and take steps to promote stability and transparency. They stressed the need for all countries to manage strategic competition responsibly and to work to reduce risks of conflict.
The U.S. and Australia also emphasized the importance of maintaining open channels of communication with China to avoid miscommunication or miscalculation that could lead to unintended escalation or conflict.
Photo credit: iStock/ Andrei Savin
