Philippines, Australia Conduct Joint Military Drills in South China Sea

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MANILA, Philippines⁤ – The Philippines and ​Australia concluded⁤ joint military exercises ‍this week ‍focused on amphibious‌ assault and island ‍retaking, a‍ clear signal of⁢ deepening defense ties amid rising regional tensions in the‍ South China Sea.the ‌drills, part of Exercise ⁢Alon-Bakwit 2024, involved live-fire training and simulated beach landings, demonstrating the ​interoperability of ‌the two nations’ armed ‌forces.

Australian Defense minister ⁤Richard Marles and philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. oversaw the final stages of the exercise. marles emphasized the drills were not provocative, stating, “This is about building interoperability between‍ two countries that share‍ common values and a commitment to upholding a rules-based ‍order in the ⁢region.” The exercises took place in ⁤Palawan province, ​near the Spratly ​Islands, a contested‍ region ‍claimed by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, ⁤Malaysia, Brunei, and⁣ Taiwan.