Australia joins defence exercise in contested South China Sea after Philippines deal with China to ease tensions

Australia will join another combined military drill in the contested waters of the South China Sea, where there have been a series of increasingly dangerous confrontations between China and the Philippines.

The latest joint maritime exercise will be conducted alongside Canada, the Philippines, and the United States, with Australia deploying a surveillance aircraft but no warship.

In a statement all four countries said the drill would “uphold the right to freedom of navigation and overflight” in the region while “demonstrating our collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific”.

The ABC has been told that no Australian warships will participate in this exercise, but that the ADF had instead sent a P8 surveillance aircraft.

It’s not clear exactly where the operation will take place, but the countries said it would occur “within the Philippines’ Exclusive Economic Zone” — a clear indication it will likely be in the waters of the West Philippine Sea.

There have been several clashes between China and the Philippines in the region this year, with China’s coast guard repeatedly using water cannons and barging Philippine vessels in the region.