Australia, Philippines Upgrade Strategic Ties
Australia and the Philippines agreed in September 2023 to hold annual defense ministers’ meetings as the nations upgraded bilateral ties to a strategic partnership amid rising security challenges in the region, including in the South China Sea.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a strategic partnership agreement with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during his trip to Manila, the first visit by an Australian leader in 20 years.
“Australia is working with our partners including the Philippines to shape a region where sovereignty is upheld,” Albanese said at a news conference with Marcos.
Marcos said the countries’ close ties were “terribly important.”
The Philippines held military exercises in August 2023 near the South China Sea with Australia, its largest defense partner after the United States. Only Canberra and Washington have bilateral Status of Forces Agreements with Manila, which allow two countries to undertake joint exercises, high-level visits, dialogues and exchanges.
Australia has discussed conducting joint naval patrols in the resource-rich waterway.
Albanese expressed support for a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated the People’s Republic of China’s expansive territorial claims in the strategic waterway, where about
$3 trillion worth of shipborne trade passes annually, including most of Australia’s trade.
“Australia supports the 2016 South China Sea arbitral award. That is final and binding. And it is important that it be upheld going forward,” Albanese said. Reuters
