PH, AU condemn Beijing’s South China Sea maneuvers, deepens defense pact
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Australia condemned Beijing’s recent hostile maneuvers against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea on Friday, announcing they are advancing a new defense pact to bolster military collaboration.
The disclosure followed the third Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Darwin, where Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles convened.
In a joint statement, they said security challenges in the Indo-Pacific had “broadened and intensified” and reaffirmed their commitment to deepen defense ties and uphold international law.
The two officials expressed “serious concern over the situation in the South China Sea, particularly China’s vessels engaging in destabilizing and dangerous conduct towards Philippine vessels.”
They cited recent dangerous actions by the China Coast Guard at Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea that resulted in injuries to Philippine Navy sailors.
They also criticized “behavior that is aggressive and destabilizing, including water cannoning and ramming of vessels, which risks escalation and miscalculation,” adding that all militaries and maritime forces should operate professionally and safely.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling next year, Teodoro and Marles reaffirmed the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
They urged all states to avoid actions that undermine the convention or infringe on the lawful maritime rights of other countries, while stressing that disputes should be resolved peacefully and in line with international law.
China continues to claim sovereignty over most of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea within the areas that overlap with the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
Beijing has rejected the 2016 arbitral ruling, which invalidated the legal basis of its sweeping “nine-dash line” claim in the South China Sea, later expanded to a “10-dash line.”
Defense pact in the works
The two sides also welcomed progress toward concluding a Philippines-Australia Defense Cooperation Arrangement, which will replace the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.
Once finalized, the agreement will establish a modern framework for bilateral defense ties as the two countries expand cooperation on security, joint activities and interoperability.
Teodoro and Marles also discussed defense infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing interoperability and strengthening the Philippines’ territorial defense capabilities under its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.
They stressed that all project sites would remain under Philippine sovereignty.
Teodoro and Marles also agreed to deepen intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance cooperation, including Philippine support for Australia’s MC-55A Peregrine capability.
They likewise committed to maintaining the momentum of joint military exercises, with Balikatan, Pitch Black and Carabaroo scheduled for 2026 and Exercise Alon set for 2027.
The two officials said they would work toward concluding and implementing the new Defense Cooperation Arrangement and agreed to hold the fourth Philippines-Australia Defense Ministers’ Meeting in the Philippines in 2027.
China’s missile test
The two officials also raised concerns over China’s July 6 test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile from the South China Sea that flew over the Philippines before landing in the Pacific.
They called on countries to provide advance notice of intercontinental and submarine-launched ballistic missile tests, as well as space launches, to affected states, and urged greater transparency through the Hague Code of Conduct.
Beyond the South China Sea, Teodoro and Marles reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and opposed unilateral efforts to change the status quo.
Teodoro and Marles also expressed concern over Russia’s war in Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, and North Korea’s missile activities and military support for Russia. /mr
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