Inaugural Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting tackles China aggression in the South China Sea

Australia has doubled down on a strategic partnership following escalating aggression from China in a key body of water.

Australia has pledged its support to the Philippines as it battles escalating aggression from China in the South China Sea in what Manila says is an attempt to strip it of its “sovereign rights”.

Philippines Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C Teodoro Jr on Tuesday met with Richard Marles at the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Canberra.

Mr Teodoro said the Philippines had become “direct victims of Chinese aggression” and welcomed the “principled co-operation” between Australia and the Philippines.

“We have an interest in ensuring peace and stability here, and the only framework we can operate on is on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, and to resist any unilateral attempts of redefining it to the selfish interest of anyone’s state,” he said.

Defence Minister Richard Marles met Philippine’s Secretary of National Defense Gilberto C Teodoro Jr at the inaugural Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman

Defence Minister Richard Marles reiterated Australia’s commitment to promoting international rule of law, as well as the “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea, East China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.

As a result of Tuesday’s meeting, Australia again committed to shared defence drills, including the large-scale Talisman Sabre exercises in July 2025, and the defence ministers also agreed to update the 1995 MOU on Co-operation Defence Activities, which will be re-signed at next year’s meeting.

The two countries will also commit to further intelligence information sharing on issues related to counter-terrorism and mutual security threats, and send a defence engineering assessment team to the Philippines in early 2025 to bolster its defence infrastructure.

Mr Marles said continued joint co-operation between the two nations was in Australia’s national interest.

“Bodies of water like the South China Sea are areas where a significant proportion of Australia’s trade traverses,” he said.

“What you see is us building our relationships with the countries of the region who are supportive of the rules based order … which gives agency to smaller countries.

“An order which means that we’re not living by virtue of the rule of power, but where countries of our size do have the agency to make our way and to make our decisions.”

Image of a Philippine Coast Guard ship colliding with a Chinese Coast Guard ship in August. Picture: Handout/ Philippine Coast Guard (PCG)/ AFP

The Philippines is looking to foster stronger ties with allied countries following increased aggression from China in the South China Sea, with Mr Teodoro saying it was a key priority of his build alliances with “like-minded countries” like Australia.

In September, the Australian government condemned the “repeated and intentional ramming of Philippine vessels, and the use of water cannons near the Sabina Shoal on August 19, 25 and 31.

It labelled the action as “destabilising and unacceptable conduct,” and said it posed “serious risks of harm” to crew, as well as the stability of the area.