A Philippine Navy AW159 Wildcat helicopter flies in close proximity to the BRP Jose Rizal during Exercise ALON 2025, east of Bajo de Masinloc on 27 August 2025. (Photo by: FF150)

Manila and Allies Conduct Joint Combat Drills Near Scarborough Shoal

Jeoffrey Maitem - : Aug 30, 2025 - : 4:44 pm

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The navies of the Philippines, Australia, and Canada recently carried out joint maritime combat drills near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, just weeks after a collision involving Chinese naval and coast guard vessels during a chase of a Philippine ship.

Observers noted combat exercises was meant to bolster Manila’s security ties with both regional and extra-regional partners, a strategy that has become increasingly significant amid uncertainties over Washington’s policies on the South China Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region.

On Wednesday, vessels of the Philippine Navy's guided missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), Australian guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41), and Canadian guided missile frigate HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH-332) departed from El Nido, Palawan, an Island facing the South China Sea.

The joint sail, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, was part of Amphibious Land Operation (ALON) exercises that formally ended Friday, August 29.

According to the AFP, the drills featured two major serials: the Air Defense Exercise, which enhanced participants’ ability to counter simulated aerial threats through coordinated defensive measures, and the Photo Exercise, which demonstrated precision formation sailing and multinational naval professionalism.

Analysts said Manila’s latest drills with its allies reflect its effort to strengthen security ties with both regional and extra-regional partners, amid uncertainties surrounding Washington’s policies on the South China Sea and the wider region.

“The goal is to strengthen deterrence which, it is hoped, will lead China to pull back—at least to some extent—and to consider the Philippines’ defense of its sovereign rights and maritime jurisdiction,” said Sarang Shidore, director of the Quincy Institute think tank’s Global South Program in Washington.

Anita Abbott, chair of the Asia-Pacific Security Innovation Forum in New Zealand, viewed the drills carry multiple layers of significance — strategic, political, operational, and even psychological. She noted that resilient deterrence relies on such a multilayered approach.

“It is interesting that Canada is involved since it is not really an active participant in the Indo-pacific. So, from a signaling perspective, China will see solidarity of countries that are willing to operate near disputed waters. That can be a good starting point for Manila in several strategic areas,” she said.

On August 11, two Chinese ships collided while chasing a Philippine vessel near Scarborough Shoal, or Panatag Shoal, one of the disputed areas in the South China Sea. The shoal has been a flashpoint between Manila and Beijing since China seized it in 2012 after a naval standoff.

Another expert, Arnaud Leveau, an assistant professor of geopolitics at Paris Dauphine University, said joint training in areas such as aerial defense, formation sailing, and amphibious operations serves several critical purposes for the navies involved.

“Each navy operates with its own platforms, sensors, and doctrines; exercising together allows them to develop shared procedures and communication protocols that are indispensable in any real-world contingency. At the same time, these maneuvers convey deterrence through professionalism,” said Leveau.

He added: “The ability to conduct precise formation sailing and coordinate air-defense measures demonstrates not only technical skill but also the presence of a disciplined, multinational force in contested waters, a message carefully calibrated for both reassurance and deterrence.”

Asked how they can counter aerial threats such as drones and helicopters that have become an increasing concern, he said it has markedly transformed the tactical landscape of the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s name for the part of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“To confront this challenge, modern navies have adopted layered air defenses, integrating shipborne radars, missile systems, and electronic warfare suites to create overlapping shields of protection,” Leveau explained.

“In parallel, they are developing specialized counter-drone tactics, ranging from jamming and spoofing to the experimental use of directed-energy weapons designed to neutralize unmanned systems before they can threaten critical assets,” he added.

The participation of Canada, alongside Australia, Leveau said, underscores that concerns over freedom of navigation and regional stability extend well beyond the immediate neighborhood.

For Manila, such engagement supports its ongoing effort to diversify its diplomatic and defense partnerships beyond its traditional alliance with the United States, strengthening its hand both militarily and diplomatically.

“It reflects a broader internationalization of South China Sea security, linking Indo-Pacific nations with transatlantic partners who share an interest in preserving open and secure sea lanes, including France and UK,” he said.

Shidore, however, argued that unlike Australia, Canada is an extra-regional player, which can't really claim to be an organic Indo-Pacific power.

“This creates a provocative edge to the deterrence play, as China's anxieties about a global coalition designed to hem it in increase,” Shidore noted.