Unity Vessels from Australia, the USA, the Philippines, and Japan navigate in formation, symbolizing the collective resolve to ensure freedom of navigation in accordance with international law. The Maritime Cooperative Activity underscored the countries’ shared commitment to a rules-based order in maritime conduct. AFP photo

FIVE warships from the Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia held maritime exercises in the highly contested waters of the South China Sea to demonstrate their unity in the face of Chinese aggression in the key waterway.

In response to the four-country Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) from April 6 to 7, Beijing said it would conduct military "combat patrols" in the same area as the joint drills.

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