Australia Launches Massive Military Drills with Philippines in South China Sea

Manila, Aug 15 (AP) Australia has initiated its largest military exercises with the Philippines, engaging over 3,600 military personnel in live-fire drills, strategic maneuvers, and a beach assault in a Philippine town along the contested South China Sea. These exercises aim to address increasing concerns over China's assertive activities in the region.

The exercises, named "Alon"—a Tagalog word meaning "wave"—will highlight Australia's military strength. The drills will include a guided-missile destroyer, F/A-18 supersonic fighter jets, a C-130 aircraft, Javelin anti-tank systems, and special forces sniper arsenal.

Defense officials stated that forces from the US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Indonesia will participate as observers.

Vice Admiral Justin Jones of the Royal Australian Navy noted, "This exercise underscores Australia's dedication to partnering with allies to preserve a region where state sovereignty is respected, international law prevails, and nations operate without coercion."

He added that these drills present a chance to refine collaboration and response strategies to common security issues, projecting power over vast distances across the Indo-Pacific.

Scheduled to continue until August 29, Australia stands as the second nation after the US holding a visiting forces agreement with the Philippines, granting mutual troop deployments for various exercises.

A similar agreement between the Philippines and Japan is set to be enacted next month, while negotiations for comparable arrangements with countries such as France and Canada are ongoing.

China has criticized such multinational drills and alliances around the South China Sea, accusing the US and allies of forming a coalition against it and increasing regional militarization.

China, which asserts claims over most of the South China Sea—a vital global trade route—has witnessed heightened territorial disputes with the Philippines. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also have claims over these resource-abundant waters.

Recently, a Chinese navy ship and a coast guard ship collided during an attempt to repel a smaller vessel of the Philippine coast guard in the Scarborough Shoal.

The Australian Embassy in Manila raised concerns over "the hazardous and unprofessional conduct of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal concerning the Philippine Coast Guard," emphasizing the necessity for de-escalation, restraint, and adherence to international law.

In reaction, the US deployed two warships near Scarborough in a freedom of navigation operation to challenge China's vast territorial claims and entry restrictions.

Additionally, in February, an incident involving a Chinese J-16 fighter jet releasing flares, passing dangerously close to an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft in international airspace, was reported by Australian defense officials.

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