The Philippine Star's front page reported that the Philippines, Australia, and Canada will hold a joint military exercise in the South China Sea from August 15 to 30, 2025, with the code name "ALON" (meaning "waves" in Filipino). The exercise is led by the navies of the Philippines, Australia, and Canada, aiming to enhance regional security cooperation, but has triggered a strong reaction from China.
The exercise will take place from August 15 to 30, 2025, lasting for 15 days. The location is near the waters of Balanac Island in the South China Sea.
The participating forces include 3,600 personnel, 3 main warships (the Philippine "BRP Jose Rizal" frigate, the Australian "HMAS Brisbane" destroyer, and the Canadian "HMCS Ville de Quebec" frigate), the Canadian Navy task force, and the U.S. Marine Corps.
The exercise content includes amphibious operations, land operations, and live-fire exercises, and for the first time, it introduces the U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy task force.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized the three countries' exercise as "provocative," accusing the United States of using the Philippines to "collude with external forces" and emphasized that the situation in the South China Sea is highly tense.
One week before the exercise began (August 19), there was a provocative incident in the Scarborough Shoal area where a small Philippine boat dangerously approached a Chinese coast guard ship, seen as a supporting action for the exercise.
This exercise is the largest military operation since the upgrading of the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Australia in 2023, aimed at addressing security challenges in the South China Sea region. Previously, the Philippines had conducted joint navigation activities with the United States, India, and other countries in the South China Sea.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841381547715584/
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