Western allies back Philippines with first maritime exercise amid Communist China threat

The Philippines, the U.S., Australia, and Japan held the first multilateral maritime cooperative activity (MMCA) as territorial tensions mounted in the South China Sea.

The naval drills were conducted on April 7 to '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', the four treaty allies said in a joint statement.