Australia, Canada and the Philippines have deployed three warships and aircraft for drills against simulated aerial threats off a disputed South China Sea shoal where Chinese forces have used manoeuvres to try to drive away Filipino aircraft and ships.

The Philippine military said the naval drills east of the Scarborough Shoal were concluded safely and it did not mention any encounter with Chinese coast guard, navy and suspected militia ships which have been closely guarding the uninhabited fishing atoll off the northwestern Philippines for years.

Chinese officials did not immediately issue any comment on the naval drills but they have repeatedly warned that they would defend the shoal and outlying waters, which they claim as China's territory, at all cost.

China and the Philippines cla

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