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Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States have reconfirmed their commitment to uphold the right of freedom of navigation.
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In a joint statement, published on 7 August, defence and military chiefs of the four countries committed to enhance regional and international cooperation for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and the United States 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),” according to the statement.
“Demonstrating our collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, our combined armed forces will conduct a Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone on August 7 and 8, 2024.
“The naval and air force units of participating nations will operate together enhancing cooperation and interoperability between our armed forces. The activity will be conducted in a manner that is consistent with international law and with due regard to the safety of navigation and the rights and interests of other States.
“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.”
The statement was announced by Australian Chief of Defence Force Admiral David Johnston, Canadian Chief of the Defence Staff General M.A. Jennie Carignan, Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Romeo S Brawner Jr, and US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo.
The joint statement followed after numerous altercations between Australia, Canada, the Philippines, and US shipping and aircraft – and those of the People’s Republic of China.
Earlier this year, a People’s Liberation Army Navy J-10 fighter jet intercepted and dropped flares into the flight path of a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk helicopter on 4 May.
The helicopter had been deployed by Hobart Class Destroyer HMAS Hobart during Operation Argo while operating in international waters and enforcing United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea.
In addition, Royal Australian Navy divers were injured in November last year after an altercation with a People’s Liberation Army-Navy destroyer in international waters.
The crew of Anzac Class frigate HMAS Toowoomba suffered minor injuries after being exposed to sonar pulses from hull-mounted sonar on a Chinese destroyer operating within international waters, inside of Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone, on 14 November.
HMAS Toowoomba had been undertaking operations in support of United Nations-sanctioned enforcement when it stopped to begin diving operations in order to clear fishing nets that had become entangled around its propellers.
While diving operations were underway, a PLA-N destroyer (DDG-139) operating in the vicinity closed towards HMAS Toowoomba. HMAS Toowoomba communicated its intention to conduct diving operations on normal maritime channels and used internationally recognised signals. It advised the PLA-N destroyer that diving operations were being conducted and requested the ship keep clear.
The Chinese vessel approached at a closer range and was detected operating its hull-mounted sonar in an unsafe and unprofessional manner that posed a risk to the safety of the Australian divers who were forced to exit the water.
