PH to join Australia, US Talisman Sabre military drill next year

The Philippines for the first time will participate in the joint military exercise between Australia and the United States or the Talisman Sabre Exercise next year, officials from the two countries said on Wednesday.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister for Defense Richard Marles held the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Canberra on Tuesday.

“The Secretary confirmed the Philippines would participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre next year for the first time,” they said in a joint statement.

According to the Australian government, Exercise Talisman Sabre is the largest exercise conducted in Australia. It is bilaterally designed by Australia and the US and is a multilaterally planned and conducted exercise.

Meanwhile, Marles said Australia will continue to participate in Alon, Balikatan, Salaknib exercises in the Philippines next year.

Teodoro and Marles expressed “serious concern” about the situation in the South China Sea and pointed out that all states should be free to exercise rights and freedoms consistent with international law.

“The principals reiterated serious concern about dangerous conduct by China against vessels from the Philippines,” they said.

“They emphasized the need for all states to pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law and reaffirmed that the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award was final and binding on the parties. They resolved to work together to support regional maritime security and uphold international law,” it added.

The two countries also reaffirmed their commitment to the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to the region’s stability and security, including through the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus framework.

Aside from this, they also expressed concern over the serious implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.

They were also wary of the deployment of North Korean military personnel to aid Russia against Ukraine, as well as the continued launching of ballistic and other missiles by North Korea in recent months, violating the United Nations Security Council Resolutions and posing threats to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News