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The maritime cooperative activity was aimed at "upholding
freedom of navigation and overflight, reaffirming the four
nations' commitment to bolstering regional security and
stability," the U.S. Pacific Fleet said.
It involved four warships and a series of maritime maneuvers to
test and validate the interoperability of our armed forces'
doctrines, tactics, techniques, and procedures, it added.
In April, the Philippines conducted joint maritime activity with
Japan, Australia, and the United States.
The Philippines has turned to countries supportive of its claims
in the South China Sea to counter what Manila regards as the
increasing aggressiveness of China, which claims almost the
entire strategic waterway.
Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam have competing claims of
sovereignty in portions of the South China Sea, a passage
through which $3 trillion in goods move every year.
(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Ed Davies)
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