Outgoing Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu is seen in this photograph taken in Mariveles, Bataan last April during the turnover ceremony of drones her country gave to the Philippine Coast Guard. (Photo by Philippine Coast Guard)

Australia to Provide Additional Drones to PH Coast Guard

Jeoffrey Maitem - : Jul 11, 2025 - : 9:39 pm

Australia has pledged to provide the Philippine Coast Guard with additional state-of-the-art drones to strengthen maritime domain awareness and support operations in the South China Sea. Speaking at the Stratbase ADRI forum in Makati City Friday, HK Yu, outgoing Australian...

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Australia has pledged to provide the Philippine Coast Guard with additional state-of-the-art drones to strengthen maritime domain awareness and support operations in the South China Sea.

Speaking at the Stratbase ADRI forum in Makati City Friday, HK Yu, outgoing Australian Ambassador to the Philippines, said the drones, worth Php 110 million (AUD 2.9 million), would be delivered over the next couple of years and would include not only equipment but also training and integration support.

"Our commitment goes further than physical assets. It also includes operational training, support, and an integration package," she said. "This capability uplift is another example of Australia's ongoing commitment to provide tangible assistance to the Philippines to boost its maritime domain awareness."

In April, Canberra gave 20 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) worth Php 34 million (AUD 895,000) to the Philippine Coast Guard amid Beijing's growing aggression in the West Philippine Sea, Manila's name for the South China Sea within its exclusive economic zone.

"Through the DFAT's (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) Southeast Asia and Pacific Cyber Program, we are stepping up cyber capacity building support to the Philippines as a priority partner country," Yu said. "Australia is committed to supporting the PCG, the Philippine National Police, and various other departments as they work to boost their capabilities to mitigate and respond to cyber incidents."

Analysts noted that Australia has adopted a strategy of deterrence, similar to that of the U.S. and Japan.

"It has consistently supported the Philippines in its defence of its sovereignty, its leadership of defence of a rules-based order in the region, and now in building its capabilities for denial based deterrence," said Chris Gardiner, CEO of the Institute for Regional Security.

Australia does not have any territorial disputes with China, but its expanding naval and air presence in the region is seen to underscore its commitment to freedom of navigation and Indo-Pacific security as the West tries to counter China's influence.

In 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a pact to expand cooperation in several areas, from defence and security to climate change and education.

Philippine-coast-guard-pcg / South-china-sea / Australia /

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