Defense chiefs from U.S., Australia, Japan and Philippines vow to deepen cooperation

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: PBS News Hour/AP

May 3, 2024 6:43 PM EDT


HONOLULU (AP) — Defense chiefs from the U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines vowed to deepen their cooperation as they gathered Thursday in Hawaii for their second-ever joint meeting amid concerns about China’s operations in the South China Sea.

The meeting came after the four countries last month held their first joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, a major shipping route where Beijing has long-simmering territorial disputes with a number of Southeast Asian nations and has caused alarm with its recent assertiveness in the waters.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters at a news conference after their discussion that the drills strengthened the ability of the nations to work together, build bonds among their forces and underscore their shared commitment to international law in the waterway.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said the defense chiefs talked about increasing the tempo of their defense exercises. “Today, the meetings that we have held represent a very significant message to the region and to the world about four democracies which are committed to the global rules-based order,” Marles said at the joint news conference with his counterparts.

Read more: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/defense-chiefs-from-u-s-australia-japan-and-philippines-vow-to-deepen-cooperation

[Irish_Dem]

1. Russia/China aggression has solidified global democratic cooperation.

And strengthen the partnerships.

If you want to take over the world, maybe it should be done in a more
clever, subtle way?

[brush]

2. This is needed, sort of a NATO for that region.

Years ago there was SEATO. Guess that dissolved...almost like NATO was about to until Joe Biden revitalized it.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Yes it is a NATO like organization for the Pacific.

Biden has been working on it.

Thank God he is president.