Australia Backs Philippines Against Beijing’s Aggression in South China Sea

A Philippine flag flutters next to navy ships anchored at the Philippine-occupied Thitu island in the disputed South China Sea, on April 21, 2023.(Ted Aljibe/Getty Images)

As Manila and Beijing escalate their dispute over the South China Sea, Australia will join the Philippines and Japan in joint naval exercises this weekend in a clear show of support for the Pacific nation.

Beijing has long claimed almost the entire Sea as its territory, and patrols it with a fleet of coastguard vessels, some more than 1,000 km (620 miles) from its mainland.

This has caused ongoing conflict with nearby nations, and the two countries have had a series of on-water confrontations including water cannon use, and heated verbal exchanges. Most recently, Beijing attempted to disrupt supply missions to Filipino soldiers stationed on a grounded warship within its claimed territorial waters.

The BRP Sierra Madre is a World War II-era landing ship that the Philippines deliberately grounded on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal (or Ren’ai Jiao), a submerged reef in the Spratly Islands, in 1999. On March 23, China used a water cannon against a Philippine boat on a resupply mission to the Sierra Madre.

Situated between the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia, the Spratly Islands are the subject of many overlapping territorial claims, including China’s expansive “nine-dash line.” Although it has limited value, the islands sit on a critical trade and supply route.

The disputed Spratly Islands, where the Philippines has based troops stationed on a grounded warship. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

Beijing has built its own outpost on nearby Mischief Reef, through extensive sand-dredging operations in the South China Sea.

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Jonathan Malaya, a spokesperson for the Philippines National Security Council, warned that “any attempt by China to interfere with re-supply missions will be met ... in a fashion that protects our troops.”

He reiterated that the counter-measures announced by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. last week, against “aggressive” actions by Beijing’s coastguard, will be “multi-dimensional” and not solely military in nature.

In response to Beijing’s actions, Australia, alongside Japan, will participate in joint naval exercises off the coast of Palawan this weekend, marking the first full-scale exercise involving all four countries.

Australia is sending the frigate Warramunga along with an aircraft. They will join a Japanese ­destroyer and several U.S. and Philippine ships in the manoeuvres.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines confirmed the Warramunga arrived in Palawan port this week, while the Australian Defence Force described it as being on an “Indo-Pacific ­regional presence deployment.”

U.S. Counting on Pacific Allies to Push Back Against Beijing

The drills are being described as part of a more “robust ­assertion” of the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy, aimed at rallying partner nations to counteract Beijing’s growing regional influence.

While Beijing may express discontent with Australia’s involvement in the manoeuvres, it has emphasised keeping South China Sea disputes bilateral, and accused outside powers of interfering.

Despite tensions, the possibility of minor conflicts escalating into larger confrontations remains low. However, Manila retains the option to invoke its mutual defence treaty with Washington if pushed too far by Beijing’s actions.