Australia Plans to Bolster Philippine Defense Infrastructure
Filipino and Australian military soldiers during the start of military exercise 'ALON 2025', at a military base in Palawan, Philippines.
Photographer: Daniel Ceng/Anadolu/Getty ImagesAustralia will augment the Philippines’ defense facilities as the two nations plan to enhance security cooperation amid Manila’s continuing tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.
Australia will pursue a defense infrastructure plan in the Southeast Asian nation, visiting Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Friday after meeting with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro Jr. in Manila. The two officials also signed a statement of intent to ink a defense cooperation pact next year.