Philippine, Australian troops practise retaking island in South China Sea drill
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Soldiers participating in a combat exercise in Tarampitao Airfield in Rizal, Palawan, on Aug 21, as a part of the Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2023.
PHOTO: AFP
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SAN ANTONIO, Philippines – Australian and Filipino troops held exercises on Friday near flashpoint South China Sea waters claimed by China, with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr hailing them as an “extremely important” example of close cooperation.
China deploys hundreds of coast guard, navy and other vessels to patrol and militarise reefs in the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that its position has no legal basis.
Friday’s joint drills took place at a naval base
“Considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region, this kind of exercise, this kind of close strategic cooperation between countries around the region, is extremely important,” said Mr Marcos, who watched the drills with Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles.
These are the first major air, sea and land drills between the two countries. They simulated retaking an enemy-controlled island. About 1,200 Australian soldiers and 560 Philippine marines stormed a beach in the drill, arriving in amphibious assault vehicles, by parachute and on US Osprey aircraft.
Two advanced Australian F-35 fighter jets provided close air support, and Australian warships secured the surrounding waters.
Mr Marles and his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro also issued a joint statement on Friday indicating their intent to plan “bilateral joint patrols in the South China Sea... and other areas of mutual interest”. These expanded bilateral activities could eventually include “other countries committed to sustaining peace and security in our region”, they said.
The exercise came after Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannon and blocked a Philippine resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea on Aug 5. The Philippine Navy deliberately grounded a World War II-era vessel on the shoal and set up a tiny garrison in 1999 to check China’s advance in the area.
On Tuesday, a second Philippine mission managed to deliver supplies to the outpost.
The Chinese coast guard said it had decided to allow the resupply on humanitarian grounds as the Philippine vessels “did not carry illegal building materials for large-scale reinforcements”.
The Philippines hosted a meeting this week with fellow Asean members and China to negotiate a code of conduct in the South China Sea. AFP
