Australia and the Philippines have begun their largest joint military drills to date, featuring live-fire exercises, amphibious landings and maritime operations in waters around the Philippine islands.

Exercise Alon 25, launched on Friday, involves more than 3,600 personnel, including members of the Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force based in Darwin, Australia, according to the Australian Defense Ministry.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said the training will take place across Palawan and Luzon between August 15 and 29.

“Exercise Alon 25 is an opportunity for us to practice how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges, and project force over great distances in the Indo-Pacific,” Australian Vice Admiral Justin Jones said.

First held in 2023, the exercise now includes the mass airlift of an Army battle group comprising armored, engineering, health and artillery units, aimed at enhancing joint force projection capabilities.

The drills are taking place amid ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have disputed maritime claims. Jones said the activities “will enhance our interoperability with the Philippines, and ensure that we can work together in support of regional security.”

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Photos: Daniel Ceng (AA)