Australia and the Philippines have embarked on their most ambitious joint military exercise to date, a move that underscores the strengthening of defense ties amid growing tensions in the South China Sea. Exercise Alon 25, officially launched on August 15, 2025, brings together more than 3,600 troops from Australia, the Philippines, Canada, and the United States for two weeks of intensive land, air, and maritime operations across Palawan and Luzon—regions that directly face the contested waters where China’s territorial claims have sparked regional concern.
According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), this year’s iteration is the “most extensive and complex” since the bilateral defense exercise began in 2023. The drills, which run until August 29, involve a formidable array of military hardware and personnel: guided-missile navy destroyers, F/A-18 supersonic fighter jets, C-130 troop and cargo aircraft, Javelin anti-tank weapons, and special forces sniper teams. The Royal Canadian Navy and the US Marine Corps’ Marine Rotation Force-Darwin are also participating, while defense forces from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and Indonesia have joined as observers, as reported by Asia Pacific Defence Reporter and The Associated Press.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones AO CSC, Chief of Joint Operations for the Australian Defence Force (ADF), highlighted the strategic significance of this year’s exercise. “We’re proud to conduct our largest overseas exercise with the Philippines, and continue to build on our close cooperation,” he said. “Exercise Alon 25 is an opportunity for us to practice how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges, and project force over great distances in the Indo-Pacific.”
The drills are not just about showcasing military might. They are designed to enhance interoperability between the participating nations, foster trust, and facilitate the sharing of best practices across a range of military disciplines. This year’s program includes exchanges in combat engineering, deployed air traffic control operations, artillery and joint fires, as well as airfield damage repair and survey assessment. Australian Defence Force Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) have been deployed to the Philippines to conduct subject matter expert exchanges and provide training in areas such as infantry tactics, land operations, military public affairs, and counter-improvised explosive device techniques.
Major Lachlan Newham, JATT-P Coordinator, emphasized the growing complexity of these exchanges. “The JATT-P is incorporating more air and maritime Mobile Training Teams, as well as increasing the complexity of the land and military planning Mobile Training Teams,” he explained. “The ADF personnel who come to the Philippines bring with them an incredibly diverse array of skills and experience to share, and they’re keen to understand the experience and perspective of their AFP counterparts.”
Exercise Alon 25’s centerpiece is a large-scale airlift of an Australian Army battle group, complete with armored, engineering, artillery, and medical units—a demonstration of long-range force projection. Troops are conducting amphibious landings, live-fire drills, and maritime maneuvers, all aimed at boosting the ability of these forces to operate together in real-world scenarios. According to The Straits Times, this marks a new high in the complexity and scale of such exercises, reflecting the deepening military partnership between Australia and the Philippines.
The backdrop for these drills is the increasingly fraught situation in the South China Sea. China’s expansive claims in the region—overlapping with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan—have led to a series of confrontations and raised alarms among neighboring countries and their allies. Notably, on August 11, a Chinese navy ship collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel while attempting to drive away a smaller Philippine coast guard ship near Scarborough Shoal, a flashpoint in the disputed waters. The Australian Embassy in Manila responded with concern, stating that the "dangerous and unprofessional conduct of Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal involving the Philippine Coast Guard highlights the need for de-escalation, restraint and respect for international law."
Australia’s commitment to regional stability is further demonstrated by its visiting forces agreement with the Philippines, which allows large-scale troop deployments for combat exercises—a privilege previously held only by the United States. The Philippines has recently signed a similar pact with Japan, set to take effect next month, and is negotiating additional defense accords with France, Canada, and other nations, according to The Associated Press.
China has repeatedly criticized these multinational drills, accusing the U.S. and its allies of “ganging up” and militarizing the region. In response to recent incidents, the U.S. deployed two warships off Scarborough Shoal on August 13 in a freedom of navigation operation, protesting China’s expansive claims and its demands for prior notification to enter the disputed waters. Tensions have also flared in the air: in February, a Chinese J-16 fighter jet released flares dangerously close to an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance plane operating in international airspace, as confirmed by Australian defense officials.
Despite these challenges, Vice Admiral Jones remains focused on the positive outcomes of the joint exercises. “JATT-P’s value is in combined operations and exercises, and the knowledge and relationships we’ve built, that are delivering results in the field,” he said. “This will be evident when we conduct Exercise Alon 25 together in the Philippines in August, which will prepare us to collectively respond to shared security challenges and contribute to a stable and secure region.”
Safety remains a top priority, with strict protocols and advanced community notifications in place to ensure public safety during the exercises. The event also highlights Australia’s broader strategy of engaging with “like-minded nations” to uphold the rules-based international order and counter assertive moves by Beijing. The Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling invalidated China’s sweeping claims in the South China Sea, but the situation remains volatile.
For both Australia and the Philippines, Exercise Alon 25 is more than just a show of force—it is a testament to enduring partnerships and a shared commitment to peace, security, and the rule of law in one of the world’s most strategically vital regions. As the drills continue through the end of August, all eyes remain on the evolving dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, where military cooperation and diplomatic engagement are set to play an increasingly pivotal role.