The Philippines and Australia’s Military Exercises and its Evolving Security Partnership

The joint military training serves to counterbalance China’s increased power projection and to safeguard against uncertainties in US defense policy.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) participated in the Amphibious and Land Operations (ALON) Exercises on August 15-29 held in Palawan, Philippines. Named after the Filipino word for “wave”, Alon has 3,600 participants who took part in various activities that includes live-fire drills, amphibious landings, air support operations, joint sails, and special forces maneuvers. The activity demonstrated joint capability “to project power from the sea onto land, enhancing interoperability and reinforcing the collective commitment of the Philippine and Australian forces to regional security and stability in the Indo-Pacific”. Under a Visiting Forces Agreement signed in 2012, Philippine and Australian troops can be deployed to each other’s territory for joint exercises. This military exercise reflects both countries’ commitment to deepen its strategic partnership formally established in 2023.

Alon comes at a time when the Philippines and Australia continue to face Chinese maritime aggression. In August, China chased off a Philippine Coast Guard ship patrolling the Scarborough Shoal, which resulted in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy warship accidentally ramming into a China Coast Guard vessel that caused substantial damage. China’s risky maneuvers points to its growing risk appetite and willingness to employ brute force against the Philippines. In February, a Chinese fighter jet released flares that endangered an Australian military surveillance plane while flying over the South China Sea. China’s “unsafe and unprofessional” action raises alarm in Australia as the incident threaten freedom of navigation and overflight. Generally, China’s growing military capabilities – having the largest navy, coast guard, and rocket force in the world – are driving the Philippines and Australia to cooperate and to counter Chinese forces with their asymmetric capabilities and security engagement.

The joint exercises reflect the growing strategic value of both countries and their defense cooperation in regional security. Given its geographic location, the Philippines is at the forefront of regional pushback against Chinese maritime pressures in the South China Sea. It is also dangerously close to potential threats of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. Meanwhile, Australia plays a key role in safeguarding trade routes, preserving freedom of navigation, and upholding international law. It is a valuable security partner and regional stakeholder in deterring Chinese coercions that violate these norms and principles. Both countries are expected to develop military capabilities and strategic coordination to prevent mistakes or accidents that can lead to military incidents or confrontations, Thus, Exercise Alon 25 provides an opportunity for the Philippines and Australia “to practice how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges and project force over great distances in the Indo-Pacific”.  

The joint exercises likewise signal expanding collaboration between American allies amidst uncertainty over their security pact with the US. Under President Donald Trump, US defense commitment to its allies now comes with higher costs and more demands as he views allies as “burdens---- too reliant on American military power to defend themselves”. To have a more balanced and fair alliance burden-sharing,” the Trump administration wants allies to increase their defence spending to 3.5% of its GDP, since the Philippines merely spend 1.3% and Australia with only 1.9%. Moreover, the US is proposing to build an ammunition manufacturing and storage hub in Subic Bay, a former American naval base north of the Philippines, which could come at the expense of the Philippines’ efforts to develop strategic autonomy. Meanwhile, it is also pushing Australia to clarify its role in the event of a Taiwan conflict-- a brazen irony considering US ‘strategic ambiguity’ on the issue. The US Pentagon’s AUKUS review had Australia pay more for submarines and asked for guarantee of their usage in the event of a Taiwan conflict. The Philippines and Australia are confronted with such conditions with greater urgency and coercion. And in the process of meeting these demands, they are at risk of escalatory threats from China while facing uncertainties on the extent and depth of US military aid under the Trump administration. The greater costs, higher demands, and more uncertainty on American security partnerships, coupled with Trump’s tariff imposition, further fuel distrust among Indo-Pacific allies towards the US.

Since Indo-Pacific allies do not hold a privileged position in Trump’s foreign policy, an increased collaboration among them is critical. There is already an increasing security engagement in the region, even between competing neighbors such as the Philippines and Taiwan. Both have previously clashed over territorial disputes but have since set aside security issues in favor of more cooperation to combat Chinese aggression. Meanwhile, Japan is leading efforts to strengthen defense cooperation with the Philippines and Australia. It is holding talks with the Philippines to transfer naval destroyers as the country needs larger more capable warships at sea at a time when it is faced with a heightened risk of armed conflict with China. Japan is also supplying modern multi-role frigates to Australia. The first three of the frigates are expected to be built in Japan, with the remaining eight to be built in Western Australia. Aside from being Japan’s biggest defence exports, the deal marks its most extensive defence industry agreement with Australia.

Between the Philippines and Australia, this year’s exercise Alon, with the participation of Canada, is an important defence engagement. Such defense activity among like-minded nations includes, not only drills using naval vessels for a simulated maritime threat in the South China Sea, but also air defense exercises to counter aerial forces through coordinated defensive maneuvers. Because of continuous and deepening security cooperation, the Philippines and Australia are planning to sign a Defense Cooperation Agreement by 2026 to further develop security ties and avoid perceptions of being the burdens in US alliance. The agreement is a testament to their strong commitment to defend their sovereignty through bilateral cooperation, which seeks to counterbalance China’s increased power projection and to hedge against uncertainties in US defense policy.

DISCLAIMER: All views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of IIPA and this platform.

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Author

Andrea Chloe Wong is a non-resident research fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Affairs, Christchurch, New Zealand. She has a PhD in Political Science from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and formerly served as a Senior Foreign Affairs Research Specialist at the Foreign Service Institute of the Department of Foreign Affairs Philippines.

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