Naval Drills Held Near Disputed South China Sea Shoal

The Armed Forces of the Philippines released a photograph showing fighter jets flying above the Philippine navy BRP Jose Rizal (FF150) during Exercise ALON 2025, which took place east of Scarborough Shoal on August 27, 2025.

Australia, Canada, and the Philippines participated in naval drills on Wednesday. These exercises involved three warships and aircraft and focused on simulated aerial threats near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The drills were conducted east of the Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine military reported that the exercises concluded safely, and there was no mention of any interaction with Chinese vessels.

Chinese officials did not immediately comment on the drills. However, they have previously stated their intention to defend the shoal and surrounding waters, which they claim as their territory. Both China and the Philippines have claims to Scarborough Shoal and other features in the South China Sea. Other countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, also have overlapping claims in this important waterway. The United States, while not having claims, has questioned China's claims to the sea, including Scarborough Shoal.

The Royal Australian Navy's guided-missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane, the Canadian navy frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec, and the Philippine navy guided-missile frigate BRP Jose Rizal participated in the exercises. These included an "air defense exercise" designed to enhance the participants' ability to counter simulated aerial threats through coordinated defensive maneuvers. Video footage and photographs released by the Philippine military showed fighter jets and combat helicopters involved in the drills. The Philippine military stated that the exercises reaffirmed their commitment to defense cooperation with other nations.

The drills were part of the largest military exercises Australia has conducted with the Philippines, involving over 3,600 military personnel. Canada and other security partners sent military forces as observers.

Scarborough Shoal is a sensitive area, closely guarded by Chinese forces. There was an incident on August 11 where a Chinese navy ship collided with a Chinese coast guard ship while attempting to block a Philippine coast guard vessel near the shoal. The collision caused significant damage to the coast guard ship, and Philippine military officials suggested that there may have been casualties. The U.S. Navy deployed warships near Scarborough Shoal shortly after the collision, conducting freedom of navigation operations. The U.S. Navy ships were shadowed by a Chinese navy ship.

The Philippines is a long-standing treaty ally of the United States. The U.S. has stated its obligation to defend the Philippines if its forces come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.