Australia to boost South China Sea presence by joining Philippines’ maritime defence patrols

Australia will strengthen its presence in the South China Sea through joint maritime defence activities with the Philippines, a move analysts have said reflects Canberra’s strategic interest in securing vital trade routes even at the risk of inviting economic backlash from Beijing.

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines HK Yu recently told reporters that her country would be increasing its maritime cooperative activities (MCA) with Manila.

“In terms of MCAs, you can expect to see more into the future. This is what we do when you have [a] very close defence cooperation relationship,” Yu said at a media reception at her residence over the weekend, as quoted by the Philippine News Agency.

Yu described the MCAs as a demonstration of the “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific” between Manila and its partners.

Colonel Xerxes Trinidad, chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Public Affairs Office, told This Week in Asia that Manila planned to hold regular MCAs to normalise the situation in the South China Sea and was working on the schedule of the next joint maritime patrols.