Canada is set to join the Philippines and Australia in joint maritime drills in the West Philippine Sea, a move seen as a response to heightened tensions following a recent collision near Panatag Shoal.
On Tuesday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) conducted coordinated naval exercises off Lubang Island, involving BRP Jose Rizal and HMAS Brisbane.
The Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Ville de Québec is expected to participate as the drills shift toward the waters off Palawan.
The exercises come just eight days after a dangerous encounter where a China Coast Guard vessel collided with a Chinese warship while attempting to block BRP Suluan and other Philippine vessels near Panatag Shoal.
The incident underscores Beijing’s continued defiance of the 2016 Arbitral Award, which affirmed the Philippines’ sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.
Source: PhilNews24 | August 20, 2025
