Warships from the Philippines, Australia and Canada conduct joint operations in the South China Sea

On August 19, the Philippine, Australian and Canadian navies conducted joint patrols in the East Sea.

BRP Jose Rizal and HMAS Brisbane conduct maneuvers off Lubang Island in Mindoro as part of Exercise Alon on Tuesday, August 19. (Source: Armed Forces of the Philippines)

ABC reported that according to the Philippine military, the operation involved the Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) destroyer HMAS Brisbane and the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec. A Philippine military official affirmed that the operation "is not aimed at any country".

"These activities are designed to enhance interoperability, improve operational readiness and strengthen maritime security cooperation," the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said in a statement.

The Philippines affirmed that the exercise "based on the principle of ensuring a free and open Indo- Pacific , linked to peace and prosperity in the region", took place in the country's exclusive economic zone.

The joint patrol, which began on August 17 off the coast of Occidental Mindoro province and ended in Palawan, is part of the ongoing joint military exercise between the Philippines and Australia.

The exercise, dubbed ALON (meaning “wave” in Filipino), will last 15 days from August 15, and will include amphibious landings, ground operations, and live-fire exercises to enhance the coordination between the two forces. This is the largest exercise ever between Australia and the Philippines, with the participation of 3,600 soldiers, along with Canadian naval forces and US Marines.

ALON was launched in 2023, the same year Australia and the Philippines upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership to respond to growing security challenges in the region, including the East Sea, where about $3 trillion in maritime trade passes through every year.

Philippine navy spokesman Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said Manila aims to increase the frequency of joint patrols with foreign partners.

Since late 2023, the Philippines has conducted many “maritime cooperation activities” with its allies, including joint trips with the US. Earlier this month, the Philippines and India also conducted their first joint patrols in the South China Sea.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cac-tau-chien-cua-philippines-australia-va-canada-co-hanh-dong-chung-tren-bien-dong-324945.html