Australia earmarks millions for Asean security projects: ‘we face destabilising, provocative, coercive actions’

Australia has set aside US$186.7 million for Asean projects in areas including maritime security, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said

‘What happens in the South China Sea, in the Taiwan Strait, in the Mekong subregion, across the Indo-Pacific, affects us all,’ she said on Monday

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Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong speaks during the opening of the Australia-Asean summit in Melbourne on Monday. Photo: AFP

Published: 11:11am, 4 Mar 2024Updated: 2:13pm, 4 Mar 2024

Australia said on Monday that Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asian countries are facing serious defence threats as it set aside more funds for a maritime security projects with Asean member states during a summit with regional leaders in Melbourne.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced A$286.5 million (US$186.7 million) in funding for Asean projects in areas including maritime security, amid tensions over China’s growing assertiveness and its disputed claims to the South China Sea.

“We face destabilising, provocative and coercive actions including unsafe conduct at sea and in the air,” Wong said in a speech at the summit, without naming China.

We face destabilising, provocative and coercive actions including unsafe conduct at sea and in the air

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong

“What happens in the South China Sea, in the Taiwan Strait, in the Mekong subregion, across the Indo-Pacific, affects us all.”

Melbourne is hosting leaders and officials from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Countries for a summit from Monday to Wednesday. Asean member Myanmar was excluded due to the ongoing conflict in the country.

Australia is using the 50th anniversary of its ties with Asan to bolster ties with the region as it deals with China’s growing diplomatic and military reach.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China’s claims had no legal basis.

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