Philippines, Aussie troops practice retaking island

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino and Australian soldiers held a mock retaking of an island through amphibious and airborne assault as part of their joint exercises yesterday, which President Marcos said demonstrated the importance of military coordination between allies in a volatile region.

Yesterday’s joint drills took place at a naval base about 240 kilometers east of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal that China seized from the Philippines in 2012 after a tense standoff.

“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,” Marcos told reporters.

He said he would discuss the prospect of regular joint military exercises with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when they meet in Manila next month.

“I think we would be discussing for sure also the continuation of this kind of joint exercise to increase the capabilities again of our (forces). You know, when the coordination is good, especially in the military, the multiplier effect is huge,” the President said partly in Filipino.

Marcos witnessed the first Amphibious and Land Operations of the Indo-Pacific Endeavor 2023 (ALON) at the Naval Station Leovigildo Gantioqui, Camp Artemio Ricarte in San Antonio, Zambales.

Hundreds of Chinese coast guard and maritime militia vessels – disguised as fishing boats – are deployed in the West Philippine Sea where Beijing has established on reclaimed lands artificial fortifications.

“It is an important aspect of how we prepare for any eventuality,” he said of the drills, which he watched with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.

About 1,200 Australian soldiers and 560 Filipino 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.

The exercise came weeks after Chinese coast guard vessels fired water cannon and blocked a Philippine resupply mission to the beached BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

Meanwhile, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles and Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro have issued a joint statement declaring the importance of rule of law in settling maritime dispute, as well as the possibility of joint patrols in the West Philippine Sea.

“We agreed on the importance of all states operating safely and professionally, while respecting and adhering to international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and we reaffirmed our strong support of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award,” Marles and Teodoro’s joint statement declared.

“We recommitted to planning bilateral joint patrols in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea and other areas of mutual interest. We committed to expanding some of our bilateral activities in the future to include other countries committed to sustaining peace and security in our region,” they said.

“We share a firm commitment to a peaceful, stable and prosperous region where all countries are free to exercise their sovereignty consistent with international law.”