Australia and the Philippines on Sunday signed a new defence agreement that deepens intelligence sharing, coastguard co-operation and joint military training, with a focus on bolstering maritime surveillance in the contested South China Sea. The signing came as Albanese and other world leaders arrived in Manila for this week’s ASEAN summit.
The agreement includes intelligence sharing, coastguard operations, and joint training exercises. Australia will also invest in additional maritime surveillance capabilities, including drone technology. Albanese said the activities would contribute to making the region “more safe, more secure, and more prosperous”.
Hunter Marston, South-East Asia program director at the Lowy Institute, said Australia has been strengthening ties with the Philippines for some time. "In the last year, Australia has been providing more underwater and surface vessel unmanned aquatic vehicles to enhance Philippines coastguard abilities," he said. He described the pact as an institutional framework for already strong security co-operation.
Albanese emphasised the announcement was not directed at any one country, but rather supported the sovereignty of every country and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, through which the majority of Australian trade passes. South-East Asian countries had planned to finalise a long-negotiated code of conduct for the waterway at this month’s ASEAN summit, but the process has stalled; Marston said whether the code will be legally binding is the sticking point.
During the summit, Albanese is scheduled to meet Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, US President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. He also met Vietnam’s Prime Minister, saying he would raise the case of a detained Australian man. While in Manila, Albanese stopped for lunch at the Filipino fast-food chain Jollibee, which plans to invest $60 million in opening outlets in Australia.
Earlier, Albanese apologised for a crude joke caught on tape at the UN climate conference in Turkey. Albanese described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as illegal and immoral. He does not expect a meeting with President Vladimir Putin but said he would be forthright in any encounter.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The South China Sea is a key global trade route, and the pact signals a deepening commitment by Australia to protect freedom of navigation against Beijing's expansive territorial claims.
- Australia is assuming a stronger security role as the United States adjusts its regional military posture, a shift that could reshape the strategic balance in Southeast Asia.
- The stalled code of conduct negotiations leave maritime disputes without a clear legal framework for de-escalation.
Background
The South China Sea is almost entirely claimed by China, overlapping with the exclusive economic zones of several Southeast Asian nations. China has built artificial islands in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, and clashes between coastguards are common. Australia's engagement in the region has grown as part of broader efforts to stabilise ties with China while supporting regional partners.
Key Perspectives
Anthony Albanese: says the agreement is about supporting the sovereignty of every country and freedom of navigation, and is not aimed at any one country.
Hunter Marston, Lowy Institute: describes the pact as formalising already strong security co-operation, noting that Australia's role has increased as the United States scales down military exercises in the region.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs: has previously demanded Australia stop "exaggerating tensions and inciting confrontation" in the region.
What to Watch
- The outcome of Albanese's meetings with Xi Jinping and the Quad partners during the APEC summit.
- Whether the stalled code of conduct on the South China Sea can be revived at the ASEAN summit.
- Beijing's reaction to Australia's growing military ties with the Philippines.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedAustralia and the Philippines signed a defence pact on Sunday aimed at increasing maritime surveillance in the South China Sea.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The new pact was inked as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other world leaders arrived in Manila for this week’s ASEAN summit”
- SupportedAlbanese was in Manila for this week’s ASEAN summit.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The new pact was inked as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other world leaders arrived in Manila for this week’s ASEAN summit”
- SupportedThe agreement includes intelligence sharing, coastguard operations and joint training exercises.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Sunday’s signing of a new defence agreement that includes intelligence sharing, coastguard operations and joint training exercises with the Philippines.”
- SupportedAustralia will invest in additional maritime surveillance capabilities, including drone technology.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Australia will also make additional investments in maritime surveillance capabilities, including drone technology.”
- SupportedAlbanese said the activities would contribute to making the region “more safe, more secure, and more prosperous”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““These activities will contribute to making our region more safe, more secure, and more prosperous,” Albanese said.”
- SupportedMarston said, “In the last year, Australia has been providing more underwater and surface vessel unmanned aquatic vehicles to enhance Philippines coastguard abilities”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““In the last year, Australia has been providing more underwater and surface vessel unmanned aquatic vehicles to enhance Philippines coastguard abilities,” he said.”
- SupportedAlbanese said the announcement was not aimed at one country, supported every country’s sovereignty and freedom of navigation, and noted that most Australian trade passes through the South China Sea.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““isn’t aimed at any one country”. “This is about supporting sovereignty of every country … [International law of the sea] is really important, freedom of navigation. The majority of our trade goes through the South China Sea. That is important,” he said.”
- SupportedAlbanese was scheduled to meet Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Albanese will meet Trump and Xi as he attends ASEAN, APEC and a Quad meeting this week. Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr is to meet Albanese on Monday.”
- SupportedAlbanese met Vietnam’s prime minister and said he would raise the case of detained Australian man Hiep Tran.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The prime minister also held a meeting with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Lê Minh Hung on Sunday, at which he said he would raise the case of detained Australian man Hiep Tran”
- SupportedAlbanese stopped for lunch at Jollibee, which plans to invest $60 million in opening outlets in Australia.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “The globally successful chain, famous for its fried chicken and gravy, spaghetti and hot dogs, plans to invest $60 million opening 35 outlets in Australia during the next five years.”
- SupportedAlbanese described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as illegal and immoral.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““This is an illegal and an immoral invasion. This is a bigger country being a bully, in contravention of international law,” he said.”
- SupportedAlbanese does not expect to meet Putin but said he would be forthright if they encountered one another.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “While he does not expect a meeting with Putin, the prime minister said he would be forthright if they had their first encounter.”
