Philippines, US, Australia, Japan magsasagawa ng joint maritime exercise sa West Philippine Sea

MANILA, Philippines — Larga na ngayong araw ang isasagawang joint ma­ritime exercise ng Pilipinas, Australia, Japan at Estados Unidos sa ‘show of force’ sa teritoryo ng West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Ito ang kinumpirma nitong Sabado sa joint statements ng mga Defense Chiefs ng nasabing mga bansa hinggil sa isasagawang Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) sa Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas  na naglalayong panatilihin ang karapatan sa ‘freedom of navigation’, pagpapalipad ng mga aircraft at pagrespeto sa karapatan sa soberenya sa ilalim ng internasyonal na batas na nakasaad sa United Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS).

Kabilang sa signatories ng nasabing joint statement ay sina Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr., Japan Defense Minister Minoru KIhara, Australia Deputy Prime Ministe and Minister for Defence Richard Marles at US Secretary of Defense Lloyd James Austian III.

“The Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) that we are implementing includes strengthening and deepening cooperation and inte­roperability with all nations, big and small, to maintain regional peace and stabi­lity as well as good order at sea based on international law, principally UNCLOS,” pahayag ni Teodoro.

“Every country should be free to conduct lawful air and maritime operations. These activities with our allies Australia, Japan, and the Philippines underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows,” giit naman ni Austin.

Ang Maritime Cooperative Activity ay isasagawa ng naval, maritime at air force units sa gitna na rin ng serye ng harassment at pambobomba ng water cannons ng China Coast Guard (CCG) sa mga barko ng Pilipinas na nasa resupply mission sa Ayungin Shoal sa loob mismo ng EEZ ng Pilipinas. Pitong Pinoy sailors ang nasugatan sa dalawang insidente ng water cannon attacks ng China noong Marso.

“Our four nations reaffirm the position regarding the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award as a final and legally binding decision on the parties to the dispute,” sabi pa ng mga opisyal.