China’s growing assertiveness and militarisation of artificial islands in the South China Sea have spurred Canberra, as well as Washington, to deepen defence cooperation with some Southeast Asian countries.
Marles said on Thursday that he met with the “Squad”, an informal defence and security group composed of Australia, Japan, the United States and the Philippines, where they committed to greater defence policy coordination.
“I think the challenges that are being faced in this part of the world and the pressures that are being experienced are well understood by all four countries,” he said.
“Now is a time to double down on friends and to double down on neighbours and to be working more closely together to provide for our collective security,” he added.
The Philippines, a close security partner of Australia, has been engaged in years of confrontations with China in the South China Sea.
China’s military and coast guard presence in contested areas of the critical waterway nearly doubled in September, Manila said earlier this month.