Bagong Alyansang Makabayan condemned Australia’s expanding military intervention in the internal matters of the Philippines. In recent months, Australia has launched multiple war games, deploying large numbers of troops. It recently conducted one of the largest war games near disputed formations in the South China Sea, further intensifying the military tension in the area.

“Australia is not only taking part in the largest joint military exercises in the West Philippine Sea but is also negotiating an agreement allowing it to deploy troops and set up military facilities in Philippine territory, including possible missile systems,” Bayan stated.

This refers to the Statement of Intent for Enhanced Defense Cooperation signed by Australian defense minister Richard Marles and Philippine defense secretary Gilbert Teodoro on August 22. This agreement sets the goal of signing a “defense cooperation agreement” by 2026.

This agreement will enable the permanent deployment of Australian troops in the Philippines, the holding of large-scale war games, and investment in “defense infrastructure” or military bases. This agreement is similar to the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the US, which tramples on the nation’s sovereignty and binds Filipinos to armed conflicts stoked by Australia and its ally, the US.

Like the US, this agreement will give Australian troops unrestricted access to Philippine territory and resources, and extra-territorial rights in locations where Australia can store weapons, missiles, and potentially nuclear arms.

“The entry of Australian troops and war matériel, on top of the already extensive US military presence, further militarizes the West Philippine Sea conflict and intensifies the risk of open hostilities between the Philippines and China,” Bayan remarked. This undermines Philippine sovereignty, and drags the Philippines into the US-China geopolitical rivalry, with the Filipino people bearing the harshest consequences of war and instability.

Meanwhile, the National Democratic Front (NDF)-Australia condemned Australia for conducting ALON exercises in the Philippines, sending its largest number of soldiers to Southeast Asia since its intervention in East Timor in 1999.

“Operation Alon 2025 lays bare the same role Australia played in East Timor: the armed lackey of US imperialism,” NDF-Australia declared. Australia’s large-scale combat training aims to protect US hegemony in the South China Sea, it said.

In previous wars, from Korea and Vietnam to Iraq and Afghanistan, the fascist Australian state has sent thousands of troops to kill and die for US wars.

“Australia has never acted independently during times of war,” it stated