No longer alone: Australia backs PH in WPS military drills

The waters surrounding the Philippines have long been a hotspot for tension, characterized by overlapping territorial claims and confrontations at sea. Just recently, Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal were condemned for “dangerous and unprofessional conduct” after colliding with a smaller Philippine Coast Guard boat. As disputes over the West Philippine Sea (WPS) persist, the Philippines has increasingly looked beyond its borders for strategic support. One nation, in particular, has consistently taken a proactive role — Australia.

This month, the Philippines and Australia kicked off their biggest-ever combined military exercise, Exercise Alon 2025. Scheduled from August 15 to 29, the two-week event brings together over 3,600 troops from both nations stationed in Palawan and Luzon. The drills are the most comprehensive yet, combining live-fire training with integrated air, land, and sea maneuvers — from large-scale airlifts to a simulated beach assault — alongside coordinated watchkeeping, communications, and anti-submarine operations aimed at sharpening readiness for complex maritime challenges.

During operations at sea, the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) and Australia’s HMAS Brisbane (DDG41) conducted a series of joint maneuvers in the WPS. These included personnel transfers, a communications exercise, watchkeeping drills, combined anti-submarine efforts, night steaming in formation, and flight quarters training, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

AFP emphasized that these activities aim to enhance interoperability, strengthen operational readiness, and encourage stronger maritime security cooperation.

“This exercise reflects Australia’s commitment to working with partners to ensure we maintain a region where state sovereignty is protected, international law is followed, and nations can make decisions free from coercion,” Royal Australian Navy Vice Admiral Justin Jones said in a statement.

Why these drills matter

In early August, Chinese vessels once more blocked Philippine patrol boats near Scarborough Shoal, leading to collisions that caught international attention. Within days, Australia joined other countries in condemning the Chinese forces’ “dangerous and unprofessional” conduct — a timing that underscores how its stance was not just rhetorical, but strategically aligned with the start of the largest-ever Philippines-Australia joint exercise in the West Philippine Sea.

Exercise Alon becomes a strategic move between two nations. By conducting their largest drill since the program’s inception in 2023, Manila and Canberra are emphasizing a mutual dedication to ensuring secure navigation routes and bolstering regional stability. 

“The joint maneuvers highlight the enduring defense partnership and shared commitment of the Philippines and Australia to promoting peace and stability in the region,” AFP emphasized.

The rapid expansion of military exercises reflects a deeper political shift. In 2023, the Philippines and Australia formally elevated their ties to a strategic partnership, laying the groundwork for more extensive defense and security cooperation. Canberra has since gone further, designating Exercise Alon 2025 as its largest overseas military exercise for the year.

As Jones put it out, the exercise is an opportunity to “practice how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges, and project force over great distances in the Indo-Pacific.”  

Not just two players

While the focus is primarily on the Philippines and Australia, the exercise also engaged key international partners. Units from the United States Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force — Darwin and the Royal Canadian Navy participated in selected operations. Their involvement demonstrates how defense collaboration within the WPS is changing into a more multilateral effort, moving beyond traditional bilateral relationships that once defined earlier drills. This evolution reflects a growing recognition that the challenges in the WPS require not just one-on-one partnerships, but coordinated regional responses.

For the Philippines, Australia’s involvement further reinforces its maritime security commitments. Canberra has been vocal in supporting the Philippines’ legal rights under international law and in criticizing coercive measures in the WPS. Beyond diplomatic expressions, these joint exercises offer concrete benefits: Philippine forces acquire practical experience in advanced tactics, ranging from anti-submarine warfare to detailed night operations.

Looking ahead, Australia now stands alongside Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and India as one of the country’s growing strategic partners. Each tie strengthens the Philippines’ capacity to face challenges in the WPS, reflecting a broader effort to secure its sovereignty through a web of regional partnerships. Taken together, these alliances also send a clear signal to Beijing — that the Philippines is no longer standing alone, and China must now factor in the weight of multiple regional powers in its calculus.

In regions where pressure remains steady, Australia’s involvement clearly signifies that the Philippines is no longer conducting its security efforts alone. The question now is how far these partnerships can deter aggression without pushing the West Philippine Sea into even sharper confrontation.