IRIA News

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Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles met in Manila on August 22, 2024, and announced the signing of a new defense agreement to intensify military cooperation in response to growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

The enhanced defense cooperation pact will allow for more frequent joint military exercises and expand infrastructure projects at multiple sites across the Philippines. Marles said the initiative would help strengthen regional deterrence, although details of the infrastructure projects were not disclosed.

Philippine officials said the agreement reflects a broader effort to enhance interoperability and build a more resilient defense posture. Teodoro emphasized that the Philippines needs stronger deterrence against unilateral activities in the South China Sea, where tensions with China have escalated.

Marles described the pact as part of Australia’s long-term commitment to regional security, noting that defense cooperation with the Philippines has expanded steadily in recent years.

Exercise ALON 2025

The announcement and meeting of the two defense ministers came during Exercise ALON 2025, the largest combined training activity between the two nations. Running from August 15 to 29, the exercise involves more than 3,600 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Australian Defense Force, with participation from Canada and U.S. Marines.

The drills include naval operations, live-fire exercises, amphibious assaults, and joint air operations. Philippine officials said ALON 2025 represents Australia’s biggest overseas training activity this year and underscores the growing scale of bilateral defense engagement.

China-Philippines Tensions

Tensions have flared in recent weeks at Second Thomas Shoal, where the Philippines maintains a military outpost on the grounded BRP Sierra Madre. The Philippine military reported a sharp increase in Chinese coast guard and militia vessels near the shoal, including ships equipped with mounted weapons, speedboats, a helicopter, and a drone.

Rear Adm. Roy Trinidad of the Philippine navy said the situation was being closely monitored, with contingency plans prepared in case of escalation. He stressed that the Philippines would not back down from defending its territory and sovereign rights.

A recent collision between two Chinese vessels near Scarborough Shoal further heightened concerns, with Philippine officials warning that such incidents risk wider conflict in contested waters.

China’s Response

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, including areas within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague invalidated China’s expansive claims, but Beijing rejects the decision and continues to deploy vessels across disputed areas.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately comment on the latest developments. In previous statements, Chinese officials have criticized large-scale military exercises such as ALON, warning that they destabilize the region.

Regional Implications

The planned Philippines-Australia defense agreement builds on a growing network of security partnerships across the Indo-Pacific. Both nations are U.S. treaty allies and have conducted joint naval patrols with Washington in the South China Sea. Canada’s participation in ALON 2025 and U.S. aerial surveillance support near Second Thomas Shoal highlight the increasingly multilateral character of these security efforts.

Teodoro said China’s actions in the South China Sea are “a matter not only of concern but of condemnation,” arguing that they have widened Beijing’s “trust deficit” in the region. He added that while Manila cannot control Chinese activities, it must strengthen deterrence through closer defense cooperation with partners.

The defense ministers signed a joint statement of intent reaffirming their commitment to enhance interoperability, collective deterrence, and long-term readiness. Philippine officials said the forthcoming agreement will institutionalize this cooperation, ensuring continuity regardless of political changes.

The Philippines views its growing security ties with Australia as part of a broader strategy to balance regional power dynamics. For Australia, the pact signals a deeper role in Southeast Asia’s defense architecture, complementing its commitments under AUKUS and existing bilateral arrangements.

Wonderful to meet National Secretary of Defense @giboteodoro today in Manila for our 2nd Australia-Philippines Defence Ministers’ Meeting.

Australia and the Philippines are global countries with shared values and a shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order.

We are… pic.twitter.com/SdlAaV32xY

— Richard Marles (@RichardMarlesMP) August 22, 2025

As the Philippines and Australia move toward a formal defense agreement, the partnership underscores shared goal of containing China in the region. With joint drills expanding and infrastructure projects planned, the relationship is set to grow stronger.

The developments mark another step in the evolving security landscape of the Indo-Pacific, where alliances and partnerships are increasingly focused on countering Chinese influence.