The United States, Japan, Australia and the Philippines will hold their first joint naval exercises, including anti-submarine warfare training, in a show of force Sunday in the South China Sea where Beijing’s aggressive actions to assert its territorial claims have caused alarm.

The four treaty allies and security partners are holding the exercises to safeguard “the rule of law that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region” and uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, they said in a joint statement issued by their defense chiefs Saturday.

China was not mentioned by name in the statement, but the four countries reaffirmed their stance that a 2016 international arbitration ruling, which invalidated China’s expansive claims on historical grounds, was final and legally binding.

China has refused to participate in the arbitration, rejected the ruling and continues to defy it. The Philippines brought its disputes with China to international arbitration in 2013 after a tense sea standoff.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    8 months ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    The four treaty allies and security partners are holding the exercises to safeguard “the rule of law that is the foundation for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region” and uphold freedom of navigation and overflight, they said in a joint statement issued by their defense chiefs Saturday.

    Japan said in a statement, issued by its embassy in Manila, that it would deploy its destroyer, the JS Akebono, for the South China Sea exercises, which would include anti-submarine warfare training and other military maneuvers.

    U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a separate statement the exercises “underscore our shared commitment to ensuring that all countries are free to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows.”

    Washington lays no claims to the strategic seaway but has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend its longtime treaty ally the Philippines if Filipino forces, ships and aircraft come under an armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

    In the latest hostilities last month, the Chinese coast guard used water cannons that injured a Filipino admiral and four of his navy personnel and heavily damaged their wooden supply boat near the Second Thomas Shoal.

    Beijing accused the Philippine vessels of intruding into Chinese territorial waters, warning Manila not to “play with fire” and saying China would continue to take actions to defend its sovereignty.


    The original article contains 701 words, the summary contains 221 words. Saved 68%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

  • raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Yeah, that’s totally not gonna backfire… Go escalation. Like we don’t have enough problems already with Russia war-criming in Ukraine.

    • Aurenkin@sh.itjust.works
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      8 months ago

      Good point, we should just always give dictatorships anything they want. That will surely keep them happy and stop them causing more trouble and has always worked well historically.

    • Jumi@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      And what do you think they should do? Just roll over and let China do what they want?

        • Dr. Bluefall@toast.ooo
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          8 months ago

          They already tried other means (intl. arbitration) and China effectively told the Philippines and the tribunal to get bent.

          If China didn’t want military escalation, they should’ve participated in the arbitration proceedings in 2013 and followed whatever ruling was handed down.

          • raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world
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            8 months ago

            Preventive escalation is basically the same as escalation. The Chinese are smarter than all of the west in their imperialism and the western world is butt-hurt that China is beating them in their own game, capitalism.

            China has managed to de-facto (financially) enslave a set of countries without firing a single shot.

            Enabled by capitalism, established by Europe and the US.

            Nevertheless, they are also a huge country with a big military, and military escalation is not even in the set of possible solutions. All it would accomplish is to de-stabilize the world further and push us way over the edge in terms of climate goals.

            If anyone is serious about defending against China, put defensive(!) systems in place in all countries were it makes sense, while also offering China something that will bring them to the table.

            Unfortunately, the west has a long history of breaking agreements and starting proxy wars, so it’s our own fault if we aren’t trustworthy.

        • A ruling was handed down to China from the world court saying they had to stop doing the shit they were doing. They proceeded to do absolutely nothing hence escalation is requited. China does not respect the international rule of law. They will continue to do so until they are stopped. I’m not sure if ur just stupid or if the Chinese bots have made it to lemmy. Can you tell me what happened in Tiananmen square?

    • So I went and read through some of your comment history and u really care about the whole genocide thing then here in this thread ur defending China saying they should just be allowed to bully other countries while they are currently genociding people. You are a hypocritical small minded sewer rat incapable of thinking for yourself. I am extra extraordinarily disappointed in your complete lack of individuality and incapability to constitute a single original idea.

      • raspberriesareyummy@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        How weak are your arguments if the only way you can argue against someone is by misquoting them? Your comment has multiple strawmen, plus the ad-hominem blabla. Bless your heart.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness@kbin.social
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      8 months ago

      Just saying, this is the same excuse Zionists use for why Palestinians should just give up and accept their fate.