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By Micah McCartney
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Australian and Canadian warships joined the Philippine navy for joint training in the South China Sea on Tuesday.
Why It Matters
The drills, part of Exercise Alon—the largest Australia-Philippines military exercise—come against a backdrop of regional friction, with China claiming sovereignty over most of the busy South China Sea. This puts it at odds with several neighbors, including the Philippines.
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Since 2023, Manila has stepped up its pushback against China's expanding presence within its maritime zone, at times leading to clashes and raising concerns an incident could trigger the U.S.–Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.
The tensions have driven the Philippines to pursue closer defense ties with the U.S. and several other countries.
Newsweek reached out to Chinese foreign ministry and Philippine armed forces via written requests for comment.
What To Know
Australian guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane departed from the Port of Manila Tuesday, sailing with the Philippine guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal, according to a statement released by Australia's defense authorities.
They were later joined by Canadian Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Québec for drills off the island of Mindoro.
"The engagement reflects a shared resolve to uphold a rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific and reinforces the commitment of the Philippines, Australia, and Canada to promote freedom of navigation, regional stability, and collective maritime security, the Philippine military said.
First held in 2023, Exercise Alon also incorporates drills in the air, space, and cyber domains. Over 3,600 military personnel are participating in this year's iteration, including from the U.S. Marine Corps' Marine Rotation Force based in Darwin, Australia.
Tuesday's naval drills came just eight days after a dramatic confrontation near Scarborough Shoal, a contested reef in the Philippines maritime zone.
A Chinese navy destroyer and coast guard ship collided, seriously damaging the forecastle of the latter, while attempting to drive away a smaller Philippine coast guard vessel that was involved in a mission to deliver supplies to local fisherman.
What People Have Said
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Australian Department of Defence chief of joint operations, was quoted in a department statement as saying: "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."
Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters Wednesday: "Military cooperation between countries should be conducive to regional peace and stability, and should not be aimed at third parties. China will firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests."
Zhang Junshe, a researcher at the People's Liberation Army Naval Military Academic Research Institute, told Chinese media outlet the Global Times: "The Philippines can take this opportunity to observe and learn about landing operations of Western countries, but the Philippines does not have the weapons used by the West and cannot realize joint operations or landing in terms of equipment and combat capacity. Therefore, the military boost to the Philippines is limited."
What's Next
Manila is planning additional joint exercises with international partners this year, Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, a spokesperson for the Philippine military, told reporters Tuesday, without specifying which countries.
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