Australia’s drone donation boosts Philippines’ maritime needs amid South China Sea tensions

Australia’s gift comes days after a near-collision between Philippine and Chinese coastguard vessels in the South China Sea

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A drone hovers above a Philippine coastguard patrol vessel during a handover ceremony in Bataan province on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 3:05pm, 9 Apr 2025Updated: 3:24pm, 9 Apr 2025

Australia’s donation of 20 state-of-the-art drones to the Philippines has highlighted Manila’s pressing need to enhance its maritime domain awareness, just days after a tense encounter in the South China Sea, where Philippine and Chinese coastguard vessels nearly collided.

At a ceremony on Tuesday in Bataan province, Canberra’s ambassador to Manila, Hae Kyong Yu, said the donation of unmanned aerial systems worth 34 million pesos (US$592,000) reflected Australia’s commitment to civil maritime cooperation with the Philippines.

Other ongoing bilateral cooperation initiatives include vessel remediation, postgraduate scholarships, operational training, marine protection and annual Law of the Sea courses.

“I am pleased to deliver this package of state-of-the-art drones. It is a tangible example of our increased maritime cooperation with the Philippines and a contribution that supports the Philippine coastguard’s modernisation efforts,” Yu said.

Australia would also be providing four days of drone-operator training to 30 members of the Philippine coastguard, Yu added

Analysts say the drones offer continuous, real-time surveillance over vast areas in the West Philippine Sea – Manila’s term for the South China Sea it considers within its exclusive economic zone – where Beijing’s territorial claims overlap with Manila’s.