Australia, Canada, and Philippines Hold Air Defense Drills Near Disputed South China Sea Shoal

Australia, Canada, and the Philippines conducted joint naval and air defense drills on Wednesday near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, an area long guarded by Chinese vessels. The exercises simulated aerial threat responses through coordinated maneuvers involving three warships, fighter jets, and combat helicopters.
The Philippine military confirmed that the drills concluded safely without any encounters with Chinese coast guard or navy ships, which have frequently attempted to block Manila’s access to the shoal. Scarborough Shoal has been a focal point of tension, with both China and the Philippines asserting sovereignty, while other regional nations, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, also lay overlapping claims.
The exercises featured the Royal Australian Navy’s destroyer HMAS Brisbane, the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec, and the Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal. According to Manila’s military, the training “reaffirms the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ commitment to advancing defense cooperation with like-minded nations.”
The drills formed part of the largest-ever joint exercises between Australia and the Philippines, spanning 15 days of live-fire training and battle maneuvers with over 3,600 personnel. Canada and other regional security partners also participated as observers, highlighting growing multilateral cooperation amid rising maritime tensions with China.