Dennis Gasgonia

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ayungin

Bianca Dava

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Philippines on Friday pushed back against China’s recent claims that Manila is the “troublemaker” in the South China Sea.</p><p>China’s Ministry of National Defense made the statement as the Philippines and Australia conducted joint exercises in the West Philippine Sea as part of Exercise Alon 2025. </p><p>Joined by Canada, the countries deployed warships and military aircraft to participate in the drills conducted near Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal, located 124 nautical miles west of mainland Zambales—well within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ).</p><p>The shoal, however, has been under Beijing’s control since 2012.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/23/ph-australia-canada-hold-exercise-alon-near-palawan-2125"><strong>PH, Australia, Canada hold &#x27;Exercise ALON&#x27; near Palawan</strong></a></div><p>“The South China Sea should be a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship. The Philippine side, however, has repeatedly courted influence from outside powers to make waves in this area, playing the role of an ass in the lion’s skin. Its acts have jeopardized regional security and stability,” Chinese defense spokesperson Senior Colonel Zhang Xiaogang claimed in a press conference in Beijing.  </p><p>“Reality has proven time and again that the Philippine side is the one who undermines stability and makes troubles in the South China Sea,” he added</p><p>But Armed Forces of the Philippines Education, Training and Doctrine Command (AFPETDC) commander Major General Francisco Lorenzo Jr. said the biennial drills were &quot;not against any country or any threat to a specific country that [is] somewhat interfering in our activities.&quot; </p><p>&quot;But we do it to prepare for our territorial defense and strengthen our capabilities in the territory,” Lorenzo told reporters in an interview during the closing ceremony of Exercise ALON at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.</p><p>He added that the drills between Manila and Canberra in the West Philippine Sea were done to exercise interoperability of both countries’ navies.</p><p>“What we&#x27;ve done is we did the legal framework of the exercise and we have not done any wrong. We are doing exercise of freedom of navigation and we had a dual maritime patrol to exercise the interoperability of both the navies of Australia and the Philippines. So, there&#x27;s nothing wrong with that,” Lorenzo said.</p><p>China also alleged that certain countries “have instigated and supported the Philippines to take irresponsible actions that harm the shared interests of regional countries.”</p><p>The Australian Army, however, stressed that it is normal for allies and partners to train together.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/27/ph-australian-armies-demonstrate-combined-firepower-in-live-fire-exercise-1921"><strong>PH, Australian armies demonstrate combined firepower in live fire exercise</strong></a></div><p>“It is normal for allies and partners… to build interoperability and certainly, normal for allies and partners to exercise within each other&#x27;s territories to build that interoperability between our two countries,” said Major General Paul Kenny, Deputy Theater Commander of the Australian Army’s Joint Operations Command.</p><div> </div><div><strong>UNHAMPERED DRILLS OFF BAJO DE MASINLOC</strong></div><div> </div><p>Lorenzo noted that the drills conducted off Bajo de Masinloc, also known as Panatag Shoal, went unhampered despite the presence of Chinese vessels in the area.</p><p>“Fortunately, we did not experience any interference from any threat that [was] navigating in our West Philippine Sea area. So, it was done as planned and we [didn’t] have any problem,” the AFP official said.</p><p>Some 3,600 troops from the Philippines, Australia, the United States, and Canada took part in Exercise ALON 2025, which ran from August 15 to August 29.</p><p>“We&#x27;ll work alongside our AFP partners to look at how we might enhance the next Exercise ALON in 2027. We&#x27;ve got some time to have a look at what those key lessons are, what we can improve, and most importantly, from our Filipino hosts, the types of activities that we can conduct,” Kenny said.</p><p> “Just like at the end of Exercise ALON 2023, we started planning in the fourth quarter of 2023. For this exercise, we&#x27;ll start planning for Exercise ALON 2027 in the fourth quarter of this year. So, we&#x27;ve got some work to do to develop that next iteration,” he added.</p><div> </div>

<p>The Philippines on Friday pushed back against China’s recent claims that Manila is the “troublemaker” in the South China Sea.</p>

The Philippines on Friday pushed back against China’s recent claims that Manila is the “troublemaker” in the South China Sea.

PH, Australia push back vs China’s ‘troublemaker, instigator’ claims in South China Sea

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PH, Australia push back vs China’s ‘troublemaker, instigator’ claims in South China Sea

Bianca Dava,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 29, 2025 03:35 PM PHT

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Philippines

Australia

China

troublemaker

instigator

South China Sea

West Philippine Sea

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