Australian and Filipino military personnel have conducted collaborative military drills in close proximity to a contentious area in the South China Sea, which China asserts its claim over.
Australian and Filipino military forces have engaged in cooperative training activities within the South China Sea, although there is currently no indication of a resolution regarding the contested maritime areas.
Despite rulings against it by international courts, China asserts its sovereignty over the region. The Philippines also asserts its claim to the same area.
China has deployed a substantial number of coast guard, navy, and other vessels to patrol and militarize reefs within the South China Sea.
The collaborative drills on Friday occurred at a naval base situated approximately 240 kilometers east of Scarborough Shoal, a fishing area that China took control of from the Philippines in 2012 after a tense standoff.
One of the exercises involved reclaiming an island from a hypothetical enemy. The Philippine president has characterized this operation as of "paramount importance" for the strategic cooperation between the two nations.
Roughly 1,200 Australian soldiers and 560 Filipino marines participated in the training exercise, making a dramatic landing on a beach. They employed amphibious assault vehicles, parachutes, and were transported by US Osprey aircraft.
Advanced Australian F-35 fighter jets offered vital close air support, while Australian warships ensured the safety of the adjacent waters.
Earlier this week, the Philippines convened a gathering with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China, aiming to negotiate a code of conduct for activities in the South China Sea.
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