The United States Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the Royal Australian Navy, the Royal New Zealand Navy, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea recently.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the MCA, held at the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, demonstrates the strength and the relationship between partners and allies and was intended to enhance interoperability and combined capabilities in the maritime domain.
She said the exercise was aimed at contributing to peace and stability in the region and upholding the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea.
This was the first time New Zealand participated in the activity.
Singh said the activity shows the intention of the US and its allies to achieve a secure and more prosperous region where aircraft and ships of all nations may fly, sail and operate anywhere that international law allows.
The US Navy Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) Royal Australian Navy Leander-class light cruiser HMAS Sydney (D 48), Royal New Zealand Navy HMNZS Aotearoa (A 11), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force JS Sazanami (DD 113), and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) BRP Antonio Luna (FF 151) and BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS 35) participated in the activity.
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Commander of the US 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Fred Kacher said maritime cooperative activities boost the combat readiness and interoperability of the US defence forces and its partners. He added that the activity offered the US an opportunity to operate with naval and air assets from Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Philippines.