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MANILA – Filipina and Australia on Wednesday (22/2/2023) discussed joint patrol efforts in South China Sea . The plan was discussed days after the Southeast Asian nation held similar talks with the United States to counter China’s increasing assertiveness in the disputed waters.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles met his Filipino counterpart, Carlito Galvez, in Manila, something they said they would do every year in a bid to deepen the two countries’ security ties.
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“We did talk today about the possibility of exploring joint patrols and we will continue that work and we hope that comes to fruition soon,” Marles told a joint news conference with Galvez after the meeting.
“As a country committed to a global rules-based order, it’s only natural that we should think about ways in which we can work together on this,” he continued.
With overlapping sovereign claims in the strategic waters, the Philippines is stepping up its efforts to counter what it describes as China’s “aggressive activity” in the South China Sea, which has also been the flashpoint of China-US tensions over naval operations.
The possibility of the Philippines and Australia holding joint patrols comes after similar discussions between Manila and Washington about conducting joint coast guard patrols, including in the South China Sea.
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The military relationship between Australia and the Philippines dates back to 1922, and the two countries have a Status of Visiting Troops Agreement which provides a comprehensive legal and operational framework for defense cooperation.
Ahead of his meeting with Marles, Galvez called US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin where they discussed the decision to proceed with their countries’ joint maritime activities in the South China Sea.
“Both spoke of “about developments” in the South China Sea,” the statement said, including the February 6 incident in which the Chinese Coast Guard pointed a military-grade laser at the crew of a Philippine Coast Guard vessel operating lawfully in the vicinity of the Second Thomas Shoal.
(esn)
