Australia and Japan Conduct Military Exercises in South China Sea

Australia and Japan conduct joint military exercises in the South China Sea from June 24-25. Photo courtesy of Japan's Military of Defence

Australia and Japan have conducted military exercises in the highly contested South China Sea as both countries seek to quell Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.

The military exercises took place from June 24-25 and followed the signing of a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation (JDSC) in October 2022 that seeks closer defence and security ties between both countries.