MANILA – Japan is committed to strengthen regional and international cooperation to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In a statement released by the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s (JMSDF) JS AKEBONO, together with counterparts from the Philippine Navy, U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Navy and Air Force, reaffirms its commitment during the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea.
According to Japan’s Ministry of Defense, “Japan will seize every opportunity to strengthen its partnership with the Philippines, United States, and Australia in ensuring regional peace and stability. The JMSDF will also continue to operate and exercise freedom of navigation in realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”.
The Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea is a multilateral exercise participated by the Philippines, U.S. Australia and JMSDF. The activity commenced on April 5 and concluded on April 7.
Earlier, the participating countries released a joint statement expressing the collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific through the combined defense/armed forces’ MCA within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.
According to the joint statement, the MCA will be conducted by naval/maritime and air force units in a manner that is consistent with international law as well as domestic law and rules of respective nations, with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States.
“Ultimately, the MCA will strengthen the interoperability of our defense/armed forces doctrines, tactics, techniques and procedures,” the statement added.
Aside from this, the joint statement emphasized that “the four nations reaffirm the position regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute.”
