日米豪比が「海上共同活動」　フィリピンＥＥＺで７日に訓練

　日米豪比４カ国の防衛相は６日、共同声明を発出し、海上自衛隊と各国軍による「海上共同活動」として、南シナ海のフィリピンの排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）内で７日に共同訓練を実施すると発表した。海自護衛艦「あけぼの」が参加する。海洋進出を強める中国の動きを踏まえ、結束をアピールする。
　４カ国の南シナ海での共同訓練は昨年８月にも行った。今回は海上共同活動の一環と位置付けた。防衛省によると、米比、豪比はそれぞれ海上共同活動として南シナ海で訓練や哨戒活動を行っている。４カ国枠組みの今後の活動は決まっていない。（2024/04/06-11:35）

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force and the militaries of the United States, Australia and the Philippines will conduct a joint maritime exercise within the Philippine exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea on Sunday, the four countries' defense ministers said in a joint statement Saturday.
   The drill, to be held as part of the four nations' "maritime cooperative activity," is apparently intended to highlight their unity to warn against China's maritime expansion. The MSDF Akebono destroyer will join the drill.
   The four countries conducted a joint exercise in the South China Sea also in August last year.
   According to the Japanese Defense Ministry, the Philippines has been conducting drills and patrol activities in the South China Sea together with the United States and also with Australia on a bilateral basis as part of their joint maritime activity. Future activities under the four-nation framework have not been decided.
   Through the upcoming joint exercise, the four countries will demonstrate their "collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific," the statement said.