Australia: Australia and the Philippines have started joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea amid rising regional tensions between Pacific nations and China.
The three-day exercises follow discussions on joint patrols to affirm the countries’ “commitment to closer cooperation and a rules-based order in the region.” It also comes days after the Philippines took similar steps with the US, concluding patrols that started in waters near Taiwan.
Australia’s Defence Minister, Mr. Richard Marles, commented that the inaugural patrols represent the practical implementation of the strategic partnership signed between the two nations in September.
“Australia and the Philippines are firmly committed to a peaceful, secure, and prosperous region where sovereignty and agreed rules and norms are respected,” Mr. Marles shared in a joint statement with the Philippine National Defence Secretary, Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr.
“The first maritime cooperative activity between the Australian Defence Force and Armed Forces of the Philippines demonstrates this important commitment,” the statement added.
Mr. Arsenio Andolong, Philippine Defence Department spokesperson, stated that the patrols would be carried out in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s term for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone.
The Philippine military announced that two of its navy vessels and five surveillance aircraft would participate. Canberra stated that it would send the frigate HMAS Toowoomba and P8-A maritime surveillance aircraft.
The Philippine President, Mr. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., praised the exercises as maintaining a rules-based international order.
“This inaugural maritime cooperative activity and those that may follow are a practical manifestation of the growing and deepening strategic and defence partnership between our countries,” the President posted on X.
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