Australian and Philippine defence chiefs to talk as disputes simmer over the South China Sea

FILE PHOTO: In this photo provided by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Deputy Ambassador of Australia to the Philippines Moya Collett, left, places the Exercise ALON 2025 patch on military chief General Romeo Brawner Jr. during the opening ceremony of joint military drills between Australia and the Philippines in Palawan province, Philippines on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. - Armed Forces of the Philippines via AP

MANILA: Australia’s defence minister and his Philippine counterpart are meeting in Manila on Friday (Aug 22) for talks spotlighting their concern over Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea, where Filipino forces were on alert after China deployed a larger number of coast guard forces closer to Manila’s military ship outpost in a fiercely disputed atoll.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles is visiting while Australian forces engage in their largest combat exercises with the Philippine military, involving more than 3,600 military personnel in live-fire drills and battle manoeuvres. Marles has been invited to witness a mock amphibious beach assault by Australian and Filipino naval forces over the weekend in a western Philippine town facing the South China Sea, Philippine military officials said.