SUMMARY
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines, the United States, Japan, and Australia will hold a “maritime cooperative activity” (MCA) in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) on Sunday, April 7, “in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” their defense ministers said in a joint statement.
“Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight, and respect for maritime rights under international law, reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” the defense ministers said in the joint statement on Saturday, April 6.
“Demonstrating our collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, our combined defense/armed forces will condu…