The United States, Australia and the Philippines have conducted their second joint maritime exercises this year in the South China Sea, amid ongoing tensions with China over disputed waters.
The four-day drills, held from April 9 to April 12, involved warships, fighter jets and surveillance aircraft carrying out coordinated operations aimed at strengthening maritime defence capabilities, according to the Philippine military on Monday.
The exercises highlighted what officials described as the “deepening defence cooperation” among the three countries and their shared commitment to maintaining regional security in the strategically sensitive waterway.
The Philippines deployed its FA-50 fighter jets during the drills, while Australia contributed P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft, and the United States deployed the USS Ashland, a dock landing ship.
The naval exercises come just ahead of the annual large-scale Balikatan military drills scheduled for April 20, which will be jointly hosted by Manila and Washington. This year’s exercise will also see Japan participate as a full partner alongside Australia, marking an expansion of the multilateral defence cooperation.
Tensions in the region have remained high, with the Philippines and China exchanging accusations over a series of maritime incidents, including an episode in which Beijing allegedly fired flares near a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft.
China has repeatedly criticised the joint military activities conducted by the Philippines and its allies in the South China Sea, arguing that such exercises increase tensions in the disputed maritime region.
