PH, Australia commit to boost defense ties

August 31 ------ The Philippine and Australian governments have reaffirmed their defense cooperation during the Philippines–Australia Defense Ministers’ Meeting held in Manila.

National Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Richard Marles, in a joint statement issued Saturday, committed to deepening defense cooperation between the two countries “amidst the challenging security environment, increasing strategic competition and unprecedented military build-up taking place in the Indo-Pacific without reassurance or transparency.”

The Defense chiefs said that the defense cooperation between the two ally nations is a “vital pillar of the Philippines–Australia Strategic Partnership.” Teodoro and Marles underscored the importance of a secure and stable Indo-Pacific region where sovereignty is respected, international law is adhered to, and nations exercise their rights free from coercion. 

The Defense chiefs added they have reviewed the progress of bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries. Teodoro and Marles welcomed developing enhanced frameworks while strengthening the implementation of existing agreements, particularly the Philippines-Australia Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), the Mutual Logistic Support Arrangement (MLSA), and the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Industry Cooperation and Logistics (LDIC).

Both sides also agreed to undertake projects that increase our combined collective capability, enhance interoperability, and strengthen bilateral and multilateral defense cooperation. “These projects will strengthen the Philippines’ territorial defense capabilities in line with its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, and the Philippines will maintain full sovereignty over all its sites,” they said. Teodoro and Marles recognized progress towards updating the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperative Defense Activities. Through the signing of the Statement of Intent on Enhanced Defense Cooperation, the Philippine and Australian Defense chief agreed to:

- Develop an enhanced bilateral defense cooperation framework focusing on priority areas to guide defense cooperation activities, training, and interoperability;

- Strengthen and synchronize bilateral defense and military dialogue architecture;

- Develop a framework for enhancing the exchange of information between our defense organizations;

- Deepen mutual understanding and frameworks for defense cooperation in search and rescue procedures, maritime domain awareness, and the professional practice of accredited Australian Defense Force personnel; and

- Progress arrangements for Australia’s construction, use, upgrade, and maintenance of defense infrastructure in the Philippines, consistent with Philippine sovereignty and ownership.  

The Defense chiefs also reaffirmed the importance of ASEAN centrality in the regional security architecture and emphasized the importance of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting Plus as a platform for practical cooperation and confidence-building. Teodoro and Marles, moreover, reiterated their concern that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had serious implications for security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond and underscored their desire to see a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. 

They also expressed “serious concern” on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) export of ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and other military materiel to Russia for use against Ukraine and Russia’s training of DPRK soldiers involving arms or related materiel. “This constitutes a further breach of international law, as well as the continued launching of ballistic and other missiles by the DPRK, in contravention of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and which pose further threats to the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific region,” they said.

Teodoro and Marles also expressed serious concern over the situation in the South China Sea, particularly dangerous and coercive actions by China against Philippine vessels. Teodoro and Marles cited the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal Award, describing it as “final and binding on the parties” as they underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight, and other lawful uses of the sea consistent with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This, as they emphasized the need for all states to pursue the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly UNCLOS.

Source: gmanetwork.com