Aus, US, Filipino forces practice retaking South China Sea island

Australian soldiers disembark from their landing ship during a joint exercise. Pic/AP

Australian and Filipino forces, backed by US Marines, practiced retaking an island seized by hostile forces in a large military drill on Friday on the northwestern Philippine coast facing the disputed South China Sea.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles watched the mock beach landings, assaults and helicopter insertion of forces on a Philippine navy base with 1,200 Australians, 560 Filipinos and 120 US Marines participating.

On Monday, Australian, Filipino and American forces conducted air assault maneuvers in Rizal town in western Palawan province, which also faces the South China Sea.

The three countries are among the most vocal critics of China's increasingly aggressive and confrontational actions in the disputed waters, but the Philippine military said Beijing was not the envisioned target of the combat drills. Marles said in a joint statement that they may soon begin joint patrols in the South China Sea.

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