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HINDI nagpatinag ang bansang China sa ibinidang joint military drill ng Pilipinas, Estados Unidos, Japan at Australia makaraang magdispatsa ng sariling combat patrol ang mga Tsino sa South China Sea.
“On April 7, the Southern Theater Command of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army organized joint naval and air combat patrols in the South China Sea,” saad sa isang pahayag ng People’s Liberation Army ng China.
“All military activities that mess up the situation in the South China Sea and create hotspots are under control,” dagdag pa sa isinapublikong kalatas na inilabas isang araw matapos ihayag ng defense chief ng Pilipinas, Estados Unidos, Japan at Australia ang pagdaraos ng joint military drill sa West Philippine Sea.
Samantala, nanindigan ang Pilipinas sa karapatang maglayag at magsagawa ng military exercises sa loob ng 200-nautical mile Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines, United States Indo-Pacific Command, Australian Defense Force and Japan Self-Defense Forces successfully conducted the first Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity in the West Philippine Sea on Sunday,” ayon sa AFP.
Kabilang sa mga pumalaot sa West Philippine Sea ang mga sasakyang dagat at eroplano ng mga bansang lumahok sa joint military exercise kung saan ibinida ang kakayahan ng Akebono Destroyer na gamit ng Maritime Self-Defense Force ng Japan.
“These activities were designed to enhance the different forces’ abilities to work together effectively in maritime scenarios,” saad pa sa pahayag ng AFP.
“Japan believes that the issue concerning the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability of the region and is a legitimate concern of the international community, including Japan, Australia, the Philippines and the United States,” wika naman ni Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara.
“Japan opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by force, such attempts as well as any actions that increase tensions in the South China Sea,” aniya pa.
Ayon naman kay Department of National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, ang naturang joint military exercise ay isang kolektibong aksyon para sa isinusulong na kaayusan sa karagatan.
Samantala, kumpirmado rin ang pagpupulong sa White House nina US President Joe Biden, Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sa Abril 11 para sa usapin ng seguridad sa Asia Pacific region.
Makailang ulit na inilarawan ng Estados Unidos na ipagtatanggol ang Pilipinas mula sa pananakop ng ibang bansa – kabilang ang China.
