In light of recent activities of China building artificial islands in the South China Sea, the U.S. and Australian government had a two-day planning in Boston on Tuesday revealing that the two countries will be in cooperation to navigate the islands.

In the name of freedom of navigation in waters, such as in the South China Sea, both the U.S. and Australian government have been planning to navigate and patrol on the artificial islands that China previously announced to be continuously creating.

The U.S. was represented by its Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Ash Carter while Australia was represented by Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister Marise Payne. The parties discussed their possible cooperative plans to patrol the islands within the 12-nautical miles limit claimed by China, according to Reuters.

A senior U.S. official revealed that both the U.S. and Australia are in cooperation. "We do operate with the Australians in certain areas of the South China Sea," the official said to Reuters. "And we're looking for ways of expanding the opportunities for us to operate together."

Meanwhile, the official declined to comment on what the exact plan that the two countries have decided on. "You know, doing the 12 nautical mile challenge is one among a variety of options that we're considering, but I can't get into current or future operations," he further said. "We're waiting for an interagency decision that includes the White House."

But what is certain is that the U.S. will continue to exercise its freedom to navigate according to Carter. "Australia and America both want to sustain and renew an Asia-Pacific regional security architecture where everyone rises and everyone prospers," Carter said per AFP.

"But make no mistake," he continued. "The United States will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows, as we do around the world. And the South China Sea is not and will not be an exception."

As the territorial claims have continuously been noticed as a serious legal dispute between several countries including China, Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, Bishop noted that it is best to act carefully to avoid complications.

"We do not take sides on the various territorial claims, but we urge all parties to not act unilaterally, to not act in a way that would escalate tensions," Bishop informed. But the Australian Foreign Minister revealed to support "the principles of freedom of navigation and freedom of overflight."

"We continue to work together to press those principles on all claimants in the South China Sea and elsewhere," she added. AFP further reports that China has revealed its plans to continue building artificial islands on the reef.