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Australia, Canada, and the Philippines have dispatched three warships and aircraft for exercises aimed at countering simulated aerial threats near a disputed South China Sea shoal. This location has been the scene of aggressive moves by Chinese forces to push away Manila’s aircraft and vessels.
The Philippine military reported that the naval drills carried out east of the Scarborough Shoal yesterday were concluded without incident. There was no mention of interactions with Chinese coast guard, navy, or suspected militia vessels that have long maintained a presence around the uninhabited fishing atoll off the northwestern Philippines.
Chinese authorities did not promptly respond to the naval exercises. However, they have consistently reiterated their resolve to defend the shoal and surrounding waters, claiming them as Chinese territory.
China and the Philippines claim Scarborough and other islands, islets and reefs in the South China Sea.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay overlapping claims in the busy waterway, a key global trade route.
The Royal Australian Navy’s guided-missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane, Canadian navy frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec, and the Philippine navy guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal sailed from a western Philippine province to conduct exercises adjacent to the shoal.
The exercises featured an “air defence exercise” designed to enhance participants’ abilities to counter simulated aerial threats via coordinated defensive maneuvers, according to a brief statement by the Philippine military.
The Philippine military released video footage and photographs showing at least three fighter jets flying overhead during the drills, while two combat helicopters operated near the Philippine navy frigate separately.
“This engagement reaffirms the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ commitment to advancing defence cooperation with like-minded nations,” it said.
One of Asia’s most sensitive flashpoints, the Scarborough Shoal has been closely guarded by China’s forces, which suffered a setback on August 11 when a Chinese navy ship accidentally collided with a Chinese coast guard ship while trying to block a Philippine coast guard vessel near the shoal.
The Chinese coast guard ship’s bow was severely damaged by the high-velocity crash which Philippine military officials said may have killed at least two Chinese personnel based on video footage.
China has so far refused to provide specific details of the damage and possible casualties.
The drills were among the final activities of the largest military exercises Australia has staged with the Philippines that involved more than 3600 military personnel for 15 days of live-fire and battle drills that would end on Friday.
