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Week after China vessel tension, Australia and Canada join Philippines in South China Sea sail
In this photo, taken from video and provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, a damaged Chinese Coast Guard ship is seen after accidentally colliding with a Chinese Navy vessel while chasing a Philippine fisheries boat near Scarborough Shoal in the disputed South China Sea. AP
The naval forces of the Philippines, Australia, and Canada were on a combined patrol in the South China Sea on Tuesday, a region where tensions had risen following a collision between two Chinese ships last week.
The Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal, the Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane, and the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec all took part in the operation, which was not intended against any specific country, according to a Philippine military officer.
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'Our activity is based on the premise that the exercise is anchored on the free and open Indo-Pacific with peace and prosperity in the region,' colonel Dennis Fernandez told a media briefing, adding that the joint sail was taking place within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
The exercise, which began on Sunday in the western province of Oriental Mindoro and will conclude in Palawan, is part of the Philippines' ongoing military drills with Australia.
The 15-day combined exercises, known as ALON (a Filipino term for 'wave'), began on August 15 and involve amphibious and land operations as well as live fire training aimed at improving the two forces' ability to cooperate.
This year's edition is the largest combined operation to yet, with 3,600 troops from both sides joined by a Canadian Navy contingent and US Marines.
ALON started in 2023, the same year Australia and the Philippines elevated their ties to a strategic partnership in order to address the rising security challenges in the region, including in the South China Sea, where $3 trillion of annual shipborne commerce takes place.
Manila aims to increase the frequency of joint sails with foreign partners, Philippine navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad told reporters, saying that such activities help deter China's aggression in the South China Sea.
Since late 2023, the Philippines has conducted 'maritime cooperative activities' with allies, including joint passages with treaty ally the United States.
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Early this month, the Philippines and India also sailed together for the first time in the South China Sea.
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