"Australia, Canada and the Philippines have conducted joint exercises off a disputed shoal in the South China Sea claimed by Beijing, deploying three warships and military aircraft in air defence exercises. The Philippine military said on Thursday that the joint naval drills east of the Scarborough Shoal a flashpoint for confrontations with Chinese vessels focused on simulations to counter aerial threats through coordinated defensive measures."
"Sailing from a western Philippine province of Palawan, the Philippines' ship Jose Rizal, Australia's HMAS Brisbane, and Canada's HMCS Ville de Quebec participated, the military said, adding that the drills reaffirmed the Philippines' commitment to advancing defence cooperation with like-minded nations. China and the Philippines both claim the Scarborough Shoal and other islands, islets and reefs in the South China Sea, while Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the busy waterway."
"China did not immediately issue any comment on the drills, The Associated Press news agency reports, but Beijing has repeatedly warned that it would defend the shoal and outlying waters, which it claims as its own territory. Video footage and photographs released by the Philippine military showed at least three warplanes taking part in the drills with the three ships, as well as at least one heavy-lift military helicopter."
Multilateral naval and air-defence exercises were conducted east of Scarborough Shoal involving the Philippines, Australia and Canada. Three warships — Philippines' Jose Rizal, Australia's HMAS Brisbane and Canada's HMCS Ville de Quebec — sailed from Palawan and participated alongside at least three warplanes and a heavy-lift helicopter. The drills focused on simulations to counter aerial threats through coordinated defensive measures and aimed to reaffirm defence cooperation with like-minded nations. Scarborough Shoal is claimed by both China and the Philippines, with other regional states holding overlapping claims. Beijing has previously warned it would defend the area; no immediate Chinese comment was reported.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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