US, Australia, Canada, Philippines stage naval and air force maneuvers in disputed South China Sea
MANILA: The United States, Australia, Canada and the Philippines held air and naval manoeuvres Wednesday in a show of force in the disputed South China Sea, where China has increasingly asserted its territorial claims. In an apparent response, China said it conducted air and sea combat patrols on the same day. Adm Samuel Paparo, who heads the US Indo-Pacific Command, and top military and defence commanders from Australia, Canada and the Philippines said in a joint statement that they "stand together to address common maritime challenges and underscore our shared dedication to upholding international law and the rules-based order." They said they were staging the two-day exercises to uphold unhindered passage in the Indo-Pacific region.
