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Australia sends its biggest warship to joint drills with Philippines, US

  • HMAS Canberra is involved in the Philippines’ Exercise Alon, being held for the first time as part of Australia’s annual Indo-Pacific Endeavour drills
  • More than 2,000 troops from Australia and the Philippines, and 150 US Marines, are taking part in the August 14-31 air, sea and land exercises

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An aerial view of the HMAS Canberra off the Philippines’ Palawan province on Monday as it takes part in Exercise Alon, part of Australia’s annual Indo-Pacific Endeavour activity. Photo: AFP
Agence France-Presse
Australia’s largest warship took part in joint drills with the Philippines and the United States in the disputed South China Sea on Monday, as they seek to strengthen defence ties in the face of China’s growing military presence.
China deploys hundreds of coastguard, navy and other vessels to patrol and militarise reefs in the contested waters, which it claims almost in their entirety despite an international ruling that its position has no legal basis.

HMAS Canberra is one of several ships involved in Exercise Alon in the Philippines, which is being held for the first time as part of Australia’s annual Indo-Pacific Endeavour activity. Alon is Tagalog for “wave”.

Australian and Filipino soldiers secure an airfield for the arrival of US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft during an air assault exercise in Rizal, the Philippines’ Palawan province, on Monday. Photo: Australian Department of Defence via AP
Australian and Filipino soldiers secure an airfield for the arrival of US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft during an air assault exercise in Rizal, the Philippines’ Palawan province, on Monday. Photo: Australian Department of Defence via AP

More than 2,000 troops from Australia and the Philippines are taking part in the August 14-31 air, sea and land exercises. About 150 US Marines are also taking part.

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Monday’s simulated air assault in the south of the Philippine island of Palawan happened around 200km (125 miles) from the Spratly Islands, where long-standing tensions between Manila and Beijing have flared.

“Like the Philippines, Australia wants a peaceful, stable and prosperous region which respects sovereignty and which is guided by rules-based order,” Hae Kyong Yu, Australia’s ambassador to Manila, said during the ship-to-shore drills in Rizal municipality.

Such exercises were “critical” because “through these we are putting our words into action”, she said.

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