Jamayka Rhose Pascual

The Philippines is leaning on its growing alliance with Australia to improve its defense against China's increasing pressure to cede its claims in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), according to National Defense secretary Gilberto Teodoro.

Photos Courtesy of AP/The Strategist.

The two nations formally signed a strategic partnership in 2023, a landmark agreement to conduct joint air and sea patrols across the disputed waters.

Both countries have heightened mutual concerns over China's expanding aggressive activities on the WPS.

After meeting with his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, Teodoro reported that Beijing's demands threaten the nation's sovereignty and stability in the region.

“What we see is an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights in the area,” he said.

Teodoro then added that the Philippines was a "victim of Chinese aggression," and has received little international support for Beijing's aggression, which has been widely condemned as inconsistent with international law.

“Although they (China) claim to act under the aegis of international law, everybody knows that what they’re doing is contrary to the tenets of international law,” he stated.

According to Marles, Australia's commitment to supporting the Philippines' defense efforts in the disputed region will continue as it plans to send engineering assessment teams to the country.

China claims virtually entire the WPS, which serves as a key maritime route for more than $3 trillion in annual trade.

This territorial stance overlaps with other Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

In 2016, the Philippines won a landmark case against China at the Permanent Court of Arbitration, ruling out Beijing's territorial claims in the WPS had no legal basis--a verdict that China continues to reject.

Teodoro argued that the Philippines’ approach aligns with international law and aims to uphold stability in the region.

In response to China's rising assertiveness over the disputed waters, the Philippines has announced an increase in its defense spending, with plans to invest at least $33 billion in new weaponry.