Despite the countries being vocal critics of China’s aggressive actions in the disputed waters, the Philippine military said Beijing wasn’t the envisioned target.
Australian and Filipino forces, backed by US Marines, practised retaking an island seized by hostile forces in a large military drill on the north-western Philippine coast facing the disputed South China Sea.
The countries are among the most vocal critics of China’s increasingly aggressive and confrontational actions in the disputed waters, but the Philippine military said Beijing was not the envisioned target of the combat drills, the largest so far between Australia and the Philippines. “The message that we want to convey to the region and to the world from an exercise of this kind is that we are two countries committed to the global rules-based order,” Marles said. “We are committed to an idea of a world in which disputes are determined by reference to international law.”
Watching out for trouble in the South China Sea: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles, left, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos jnr, centre, watch the combined amphibious assault exercise on Friday.Australia and the US expressed support to the Philippines and raised strong concerns over the Chinese coast guard ships’ actions.
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