Joint exercise of 4 countries against China

Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines reportedly held joint exercises in the South China Sea.

According to the Kyodo News, the Japanese Ministry of Defense reported that the destroyer Samidare and the country’s largest destroyer Izumo will dock at the port of Manila, Philippines, until August 31, as part of the exercise, which aims to is to “strengthen cooperation for a free life and open up the Indo-Pacific”. The exercise involved the US Navy Mobile, Australian ship Canberra and Anzac frigate and F-35 fighter jets and Philippine Navy ship Davao Del Sur.

Defense ministers from Japan, the United States, Australia and the Philippines met for the first time in Singapore in June. The United States and its allies continue their joint exercises against the increasing Chinese activities in the region.

Chinese siege of Taiwan

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry reported that 32 Chinese military aircraft and 9 warships were detected around the island from yesterday afternoon to this morning.

The ministry statement states that 20 of the 32 planes crossed the air and sea lines in the Taiwan Strait, which is supposed to limit the areas of influence of the parties, and flew in the area declared by Taiwan as “Identification Zone of Air Defense (ADIZ)”.

The ministry announced yesterday that 22 Chinese military aircraft were detected around the island during the day, and 13 of them crossed the “median line.” The flights and ship patrols come after the United States on August 24 approved the sale of $500 million worth of F-16 infrared search and track systems and equipment to Taiwan, where China is in a sovereignty conflict.

While the Beijing administration condemned the approval of the sale, it called on Washington to “immediately withdraw the decision.” (AA)