With tensions rising between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, Australian defence minister Richard Marles will visit there to observe joint training manoeuvres focused on regional security, his office announced on Monday.
Two Australian navy boats, HMAS Canberra and HMAS ANZAC, have arrived to perform the bilateral exercises with the Philippines Navy, which will involve the participation of more than 2,000 Australian and Philippine defence personnel in amphibious landing and air assault drills.
Australian drills
While this is Australia’s eighth consecutive year participating in South East Asian defence drills, it is the first time the Philippines has participated in an amphibious exercise. Military leader of the Philippines Romeo Brawner told reporters on Tuesday that the exercise held on Monday in Palawan by the United States, Australia, and the Philippines was “not directed against China.”
Province of Palawan is located on the South China Sea, in the western Pacific Ocean. For many years, China and the Philippines have been involved in intermittent conflicts over a shoal in the South China Sea.
There will be 1,500 Australian defence personnel, 1,200 Philippine defence personnel, and 150 US Marines from the US rotational unit in Darwin, Australia’s north, participating in the bilateral drills known as Exercise Alon in the Philippines.
According to a defence statement released by Australia last week, the Philippines will play host to a “simulated, combined air assault using [US Marines Corp] Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in Palawan, a combined amphibious demonstration at Zambales, and artillery and aviation live-fire serials at Crow Valley” as part of Exercise Alon. The South China Sea is not far from Zambales, either.
Australia and Philippines are collaborating
Defence and security cooperation will be the topic of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s upcoming visit to the Philippines, the first by an Australian leader in 20 years. On Monday, amid the backdrop of the escalating tensions with China,
Albanese downplayed the significance of the Australian navy’s deployment to the Philippines for training exercises. He stated, “Australian activities in our region are standard operating procedure.” The office also confirmed that Marles will visit Malaysia to meet with his colleague there.
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