The Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro stated on Tuesday after meeting with the Australian Defense Minister that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is exerting increasing pressure on the Philippines, forcing them to abandon their sovereignty over disputed areas in the South China Sea.
This was the fifth defense minister meeting between Australia and the Philippines since August 2023, reflecting the growing security relationship between the two countries as they both express concerns about CCP activities in the South China Sea.
Teodoro, after meeting with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, said, “What we see is Beijing increasingly demanding that we give up our sovereignty in that region.”
He added that the Philippines is a “victim of Chinese (CCP) aggression.”
Australia and the Philippines signed a strategic partnership in September 2023, and a few months later conducted joint sea and air patrols in the South China Sea. This year, the Philippines also participated in war exercises held in northern Australia for the first time.
Including Scarborough Shoal, there have been multiple disputes between China and the Philippines in the contested waters of the South China Sea.
On November 8th, the Philippines government enacted the “Philippine Maritime Zones Law,” incorporating Scarborough Shoal and most of the Spratly Islands and their surrounding waters into Filipino maritime territory.
On Sunday, November 10th, the CCP’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had established “baselines” around Scarborough Shoal.
The Philippines expressed opposition on Tuesday to the establishment of baselines by China and accused Beijing of infringing on its sovereignty.
Manila stated in a release, “China’s establishment of baselines around the shoal constitutes a follow-up to its illegal seizure of the shoal in 2012, which the Philippines strongly opposes.”
Since the CCP seized Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines in 2012, it has continuously deployed coast guard vessels and fishing boats in the area, which the Philippines views as CCP’s “maritime militia.”
The CCP claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea. It is a crucial trade route with over $3 trillion in goods passing through annually, with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Taiwan all claiming sovereignty over parts of the area.
Teodoro stated that CCP’s claims and actions violate international law, and defense cooperation with partners like Australia is vital to preventing CCP intrusion.
He said, “While they (CCP) claim to act in accordance with international law, everyone knows that their actions contradict the principles of international law.”
“The biggest evidence is that no one truly supports their actions or activities,” he added.
In addition to strengthening ties with countries like Australia and the United States, the Philippines plans to spend at least $33 billion on acquiring new weapons such as advanced fighter jets and medium-range missiles.
Marles mentioned that Australia hopes to have closer cooperation with the Philippines’ defense industry and will send an engineering assessment team to the Philippines early next year.
(This article references related reports from Reuters)