Australia, Philippines launch largest military drills near South China Sea

Australia on August 15 launched its largest-ever military exercises with Philippine forces, involving more than 3,600 troops in live-fire drills, battle maneuvers, and a beach assault in a town facing the disputed South China Sea, a region where the allies have raised concerns over Beijing’s assertive actions.

The exercises, named Alon, meaning “wave” in Filipino, will showcase Australia’s military capabilities. Participating drills include operations involving a guided-missile navy destroyer, F/A-18 supersonic fighter jets, a C-130 troop and cargo aircraft, Javelin anti-tank weapons, and special forces sniper rifles, Caliber.Az reports via The Washington Post. 

Defence forces from the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Indonesia will participate as observers.

“This exercise reflects Australia’s commitment to working with partners to ensure we maintain a region where state sovereignty is protected, international law is followed and nations can make decisions free from coercion,” Vice Admiral Justin Jones of the Royal Australian Navy said in a statement.

Jones added, “The combat exercises are an opportunity for us to practice how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges and project force over great distances in the Indo-Pacific.”

The drills will continue through August 29. Australia is the second country after the US to have a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines, allowing the deployment of significant troop numbers for combat exercises on each other’s territory.

The Philippines has signed a similar pact with Japan, which will take effect next month, and is in discussions with other Asian and Western nations, including France and Canada, for comparable defense agreements.

China has criticised multinational military drills and alliances near the disputed South China Sea, accusing the US and its allies of “ganging up” and militarising the region. Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, a busy global trade route, where it has had repeated territorial confrontations with the Philippines in recent years. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also claim parts of the resource-rich waters.

Tensions escalated earlier this month when a Chinese navy ship collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel while attempting to drive away a smaller Philippine coast guard ship in Scarborough Shoal.

The Australian Embassy in Manila expressed concern over “the dangerous and unprofessional conduct of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal involving the Philippine Coast Guard” and said the incident “highlights the need for de-escalation, restraint and respect for international law.”

In response, the US deployed two warships off Scarborough on August 13 in a freedom of navigation operation protesting China’s expansive claims, restrictions, and entry notification requirements in the disputed waters.

By Sabina Mammadli