Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said China’s military build-up, the largest conventional build-up since the Second World War, was creating a ‘condition of pressure’ in Southeast Asia, as China and the Philippines sparred over Beijing’s attendance at this week’s ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting in Cebu.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Marles said China's military build-up was "the biggest conventional military build-up" since the Second World War. "There's not an explanation from China as to why it's doing this, and all of that is creating the condition of pressure," he said, as reported by the AFP.
The South China Sea disputes hovered over the meeting. Beijing has increased the frequency and intensity of its incursions into areas claimed by the Philippines in recent years, leading to dangerous confrontations. In July, a Philippine marine was injured during a melee with Chinese sailors at Second Thomas Shoal.
China's Ministry of Defence accused the Philippines of obstructing its attendance at the ADMM-Plus. Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang claimed unnamed Philippine politicians had imposed obstacles. As a result, Defence Minister Dong Jun did not attend. Beijing was represented by its defence attaché, the lowest-ranking Chinese representative at the forum since it was first held in 2010. Zhang accused the Philippines of "holding ASEAN hostage and stirring up trouble."
Philippine Defence Secretary Teodoro Gilberto did not directly address the Chinese allegation, but said China was "given an opportunity to articulate their position, which is not any different from what they have been articulating before."
Marles also met with his counterparts from the "Squad," an informal defence and security grouping of Australia, Japan, the United States and the Philippines, for their sixth meeting in four years. They committed to greater defence policy coordination. "Now is a time to double down on friends and to double down on neighbours and to be working more closely together to provide for our collective security," Marles said.
On the sidelines, Marles held a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who pledged support for allies and partners in the region, focusing on strengthening maritime domain awareness and interoperability among their navies.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Australia's direct characterisation of China's build-up as creating 'pressure' marks a sharpening of rhetoric from a key regional player.
- China's decision to send its lowest-ranking delegate to the ADMM-Plus suggests the diplomatic rift with the Philippines is deepening, with potential consequences for ASEAN unity.
- The 'Squad's increased coordination signals the formation of a more structured minilateral bloc to counterbalance Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific.
Background
The South China Sea is a strategically vital waterway where China's expansive claims conflict with those of several ASEAN states, most notably the Philippines. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels and personnel have escalated over features such as Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal. Australia and the United States have increasingly aligned with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian states in pushing back against China's maritime activities. The ADMM-Plus is the region's foremost defence diplomacy forum, bringing together ASEAN's ten members and eight dialogue partners.
Key Perspectives
- Australia (Richard Marles): China's military build-up lacks explanation and is creating pressure; middle powers like Australia need to defend the 'rules of the road' and deepen cooperation with allies.
- China (Ministry of Defence): The Philippines obstructed its attendance at the ADMM-Plus, holding ASEAN hostage and stirring up trouble, but Beijing took a responsible approach by sending representation.
- Philippines (Teodoro Gilberto): Did not confirm the obstruction claim, stating China had the same opportunity as always to articulate its position.
- United States (Pete Hegseth): Promised practical support to Southeast Asian allies, including enhancing maritime domain awareness and naval interoperability.
What to Watch
- Whether the Philippines responds formally to China's accusation of obstruction, and how ASEAN collectively handles the dispute.
- The potential for further escalation in the South China Sea, particularly around Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal.
- The evolution of the 'Squad' from a policy-coordination forum into a more operationally-focused security grouping.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedMarles said China’s military build-up was creating pressure in Southeast Asia.The Diplomat: “Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said yesterday that China’s military build-up was creating a “condition of pressure” in Southeast Asia”
- SupportedBeijing accused Manila of obstructing its attendance at the ADMM-Plus.The Diplomat: “China’s Ministry of Defense accused the Philippines of obstructing its attendance at the ADMM meetings”
- SupportedChina sent the lowest-ranking representative to the ADMM-Plus since it was first held in 2010.The Diplomat: “Instead, Beijing was represented by its defense attaché, the lowest-ranking Chinese representative at the ADMM-Plus since it was first held in 2010.”
- SupportedMarles described China’s build-up as the biggest conventional military build-up since the Second World War.The Diplomat: “Marles described China’s military build-up as “the biggest conventional military build-up” since World War II.”
- SupportedMarles said there was no explanation from China for the build-up and that it was creating “the condition of pressure.”The Diplomat: ““There’s not an explanation from China as to why it’s doing this, and all of that is creating the condition of pressure,” he said”
- SupportedChina has increased the frequency and intensity of incursions into areas of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines, resulting in dangerous confrontations.The Diplomat: “China has also increased both the frequency and the intensity of its incursions into areas of the South China Sea claimed by the Philippines, resulting in a string of increasingly dangerous confrontations between the two sides.”
- SupportedA Philippine marine was injured in a melee with Chinese sailors at Second Thomas Shoal in July.The Diplomat: “In July, a Philippine marine was injured in a melee with Chinese sailors at Second Thomas Shoal.”
- SupportedZhang Xiaogang said unnamed Philippine politicians had imposed obstacles to China’s participation.The Diplomat: “Ministry spokesperson Zhang Xiaogang claimed that unnamed Philippine politicians had “imposed obstacles to China’s participation” in the ADMM-Plus”
- SupportedDong Jun did not attend, and China was represented by its defence attaché.The Diplomat: “As a result, China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun did not attend the meeting... Instead, Beijing was represented by its defense attaché”
- SupportedZhang accused the Philippines of “holding ASEAN hostage and stirring up trouble.”The Diplomat: “Zhang accused the Philippines of “holding ASEAN hostage and stirring up trouble””
- SupportedGilberto said China had been given an opportunity to articulate its position, which was not different from what it had said before.The Diplomat: “China was “given an opportunity to articulate their position, which is not any different from what they have been articulating before.””
- Partly supportedAt their bilateral meeting, Hegseth pledged support for regional allies and partners, focusing on maritime domain awareness and interoperability among navies.The Diplomat: “Marles also met for a bilateral meeting with Hegseth, during which they discussed “common-sense strategies to maintain a favorable balance of power in the Pacific region.””