Australian and Philippine troops backed by a group of US Marines simulated retaking an island in the South China Sea amid heightened tensions in the region between Manila and Beijing.
According to AFP, the drills took place at a naval base about 150 miles east of Scarborough Shoal, a chain of disputed rocks and reefs in the South China Sea that’s been controlled by China since 2012 and is also claimed by the Philippines and Taiwan.
The exercise involved about 1,200 Australian soldiers and 560 Philippine marines storming a beach using parachutes, amphibious landing vessels, and a US Osprey aircraft. According to AP, 120 US Marines also participated in the exercise.
The landing was part of Exercise Alon, the first-ever joint amphibious military exercise between Australia and the Philippines. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles watched the mock beach assault.
“Considering that there have been so many events that attest to the volatility of the region, this kind of exercise, this kind of close strategic cooperation between countries around the region is extremely important,” Marcos told reporters.
The US has been encouraging its allies in the Asia Pacific to increase cooperation as part of its strategy to prepare for a future war with China in the region. The South China Sea has become especially volatile as Chinese and Philippine vessels often have tense encounters, and Washington is strongly backing Manila’s claims against Beijing.
In the most recent incident, Chinese vessels briefly blocked Philippine boats from resupplying a grounded ship on Second Thomas Shoal. China said it eventually let the Philippine boats through under a “temporary special arrangement.” The US has repeatedly stated that the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to attacks on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.
always trying to provoke China
“Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr…..”
it’s like we live in a time warp and nothing ever really changes in some of these third world nations which are so allied with the US-centralized Empire
Lol china propagandist
And yet, after all this administration’s instigating of China, “MAGA” types/Breitbart and followers keep ranting about it being “pro China”. Do these people read anything that doesn’t have S. Bannon origin or approval ?
Killing, mayhem and destruction is the business of America’s MIC and business is good.
That map is quite a mess, it looks like a lot more arbitration is going to be needed over coming decades to resolve those disputes. I hope no one is looking for oil down there because a big find would probably send missiles flying.
Washington neocons are committed to military ‘arbitration’.
According to AFP, the drills took place at a naval base about 150 miles east of Scarborough Shoal, a chain of disputed rocks and reefs in the South China Sea that’s been controlled by China since 2012 and is also claimed by the Philippines and Taiwan.
And suddenly this is worth war?
“…chain of disputed rocks and reefs,” That is very smart and funny, Wars! But, I am sorry to inform you that it’s not as smart and funny as the US using a base in Australia that is named after DARWIN! (Sarcasm)
Washington is intent on gradually garrisoning the whole area prepatory to the contest over Taiwan. It is prudential for China to nip these in the bud.
Except that there’s no need for a “contest over Taiwan.”
The PRC could go on pretty much forever pretending it rules Taiwan and letting Taiwan rule itself, while whining any time other countries don’t pretend that’s not what’s happening.
Could Russia have done the same vis a vis Ukraine?
The Australians are Americas BITCH , they practised taking Vietnam that didn`t work out to well for them did it , the same thing will happen if they ever decide to go to war with China as Americas BITCH , China`s history goes back 5,000 years one of the many things they have learned is PATIENCE .
re: “The US has repeatedly stated that the US-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty applies to attacks on Philippine vessels in the South China Sea.”
The Second Thomas Shoal, also known as Ayungin Shoal, is an atoll in the Spratly Islands of the South China Sea, 105 nautical miles west of Palawan, Philippines. Claimed by several nations, the atoll is currently militarily occupied by the Philippines which maintains its claim on Second Thomas Shoal through the grounded Sierra Madre, which serves as an outpost manned by a dozen Philippine Marines.
…from USNI
The Sierra Madre had been run aground intentionally to serve as an outpost to boost the Philippines’ claim to sovereignty over the Spratly islands. It was one of a long-running series of actions on many sides over claims to the hotly contested South China Sea.
Though her hull is today pockmarked with gaping holes, and she is for all intents and purposes no longer seaworthy, the Sierra Madre remains in commission and is thus an official extension of Philippine sovereign territory [really?]. The rusting and battered hulk still houses a contingent of Philippine Marines staking claim to the area. . .here