Recent joint naval and air drills involving the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia have intensified geopolitical tensions in the South China Sea. Conducted on April 7, these exercises came just days before a trilateral partnership summit in Washington, D.C., scheduled for April 11, featuring U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The drills, officially termed \"Maritime Cooperative Activity,\" aimed to demonstrate a collective commitment and strengthen cooperation in support of a \"free and open Indo-Pacific.\" Despite claims of no specific target, the operations are perceived as a strategic response to regional challenges, particularly those involving Beijing.
The Philippines' Department of National Defense reported the participation of five warships in the exercises. These drills are governed by existing bilateral and multilateral treaties, including the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the U.S., and the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which allows for the rotation of U.S. troops and the establishment of operational facilities in the Philippines.
Additionally, the Philippines has expanded its defense agreements, recently opening four new bases across three provinces. This month, the Australian warship HMAS Warramunga arrived at the Philippine island of Palawan, strategically located near contested waters.
While these defense pacts facilitate the entry of U.S. and Australian forces into the Philippines, they do not grant reciprocal rights for Filipino forces in those countries. This asymmetry has been a point of contention among Filipino activists, who argue that the treaties impose undue burdens.
In a recent development, the Philippines and Japan agreed in November 2023 to initiate negotiations on a defense deal. This agreement aims to allow both nations to deploy troops to each other's territories and set the stage for future joint military drills, further cementing their strategic partnership in the region.
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Dialogue should prevail: Biden's double tactics worsen local situation
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