Australia to Ramp up Military Ties With the Philippines in South China Sea

Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles speaks to the media during a press conference after the release of the Defence Strategic Review at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on April 24, 2023. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Australia and the Philippines will bolster military ties to curb tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.

This comes as more than 2000 Australian and Filipino defense personnel participate in military drills and follows renewed tensions between Beijing and the Philippines.

In a meeting with his Filipino counterpart on Aug. 25, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said they had discussed the importance of Indo-Pacific countries exercising their agency in the region—particularly in the South China Sea.

“We recommitted to planning bilateral joint patrols in the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea and other areas of mutual interest,” Mr. Marles said in a statement.

“We committed to expanding some of our bilateral activities in the future to include other countries committed to sustaining peace and security in our region.”

The grounded Philippine navy ship BRP Sierra Madre where marines are stationed to assert Manila's territorial claims at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, on April 23, 2023. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images)

Mr. Marles added that both countries reaffirmed their support of the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award (pdf) in which the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague found that there was no evidence that Beijing exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources historically. Beijing has rejected the ruling.

Shared Strategic Interests

Speaking to ABC radio on Aug. 25, Mr. Marles said there is a “very significantly growing defense relationship” between the two countries, and that Australia is seeking more patrols in tandem with the Philippine Navy.

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Most of Australia’s trade goes through the South China Sea, and upholding international rules is a shared strategic interest with the Philippines, he said.

“A whole lot of damage can be done to Australia before any potential adversary sets foot on our shores, and maintaining the rules-based order in Southeast Asia, maintaining the collective security of Southeast Asia, is fundamental to maintaining the national security of our country,” Mr. Marles emphasized.

Last week, Australia, Japan and the Philippines conducted a joint patrol. However, the U.S. Navy did not take part as planned, Mr. Marles said.

The U.S. is likely to commence security operations with the Philippines before the end of 2023, with Australia also being considered to take part, a Philippine National Security Council official said in August.

Meanwhile, tensions have been growing in the South China Sea, with a Chinese ship blocking and firing a water cannon at a Philippine boat earlier this month.

Mr. Marles said Australia would look to elevate the relationship with the Philippines to a strategic partnership.

“We are now seeing a strategic dimension to the relationship, and in that sense, we see a greater strategic alignment between our two countries than we perhaps ever have in our history,” he said.

“In amongst ASEAN countries, the Philippines itself is a country with whom we’ve had a very long relationship, actually a very strong personal relationship.”

Further formal talks will take place in Australia in 2024.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to the Philippines in early September to hold talks with his counterpart President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

The meeting will be the first time a sitting prime minister has visited the Philippines in 20 years.