The Philippines’ ties with Australia are ‘stronger than ever’. Is it a sign it has West’s backing in South China Sea?

Manila and Canberra’s interests are ‘intertwined’, President Marcos Jnr said in remarks seen as a subtle message to China it has the West’s security support if needed

The Philippines’ bid to forge stronger cooperation India and Japan means a trilateral deal might also be a distinct possibility in future, analysts say

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Chinese coastguard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel on March 5 in the South China Sea. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:00pm, 9 Mar 2024

In stark contrast to his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte’s no-show at the last Asean-Australia Special Summit in 2018, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s cosy ties with Canberra were on full display at this year’s meeting, in what observers have described as a signal from Manila that it has the backing of the West.

Given the Philippines’ attempts to forge stronger security and defence cooperation with other Asian allies, particularly India and Japan, a trilateral deal between the three nations might also be a distinct possibility in future, the analysts added.

In a speech on Monday in Melbourne, Marcos Jnr delicately balanced his opposition towards Chinese aggression in the South China Sea by saying that it was necessary for the Philippines to work and negotiate with Beijing, while also firmly expressing Manila’s rejection of Cold War-style geopolitics stemming from the US-China rivalry.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr answers questions after making a speech on the sidelines of the Australia-Asean Special Summit in Melbourne on Monday. Photo: AFP

Just days earlier, the Philippine president had made a historic address to the Australian parliament, proclaiming his country would not cede “one square inch” of its territory and would defend its sovereignty amid Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea.

It was in this context that Marcos Jnr explained why the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Australia had “grown more important than ever”.

“From the very beginning, we knew that our interests were intertwined,” he said, referencing previous wars Filipino and Australian forces were involved in. “We have long known that our prosperity and development are anchored in the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific.

“Today, that peace, that stability and our continued success have come under threat. Once again, we must come together as partners to face the common challenges confronting the region,” he said. “Not one single country can do this by itself, no single force can attend, counter them, by themselves.”