Beijing has deployed hundreds of navy and coast guard vessels across the South China Sea while persisting with expansive territorial claims that were invalidated by an international ruling. Manila reported that Chinese military and coast guard activity in these contested waters nearly doubled in September. Tensions have also escalated following Beijing's July test of a nuclear-capable missile in the South Pacific. In response, Australia, Japan, the United States, and the Philippines have committed to stronger collective security measures.
Key points
Australia views Beijing's vast military expansion as an unexplained challenge to the esta…: Australia views Beijing's vast military expansion as an unexplained challenge to the established international rules-based order.
China continues to advance sweeping maritime claims despite an international ruling that…: China continues to advance sweeping maritime claims despite an international ruling that invalidated its territorial stance.
The informal Squad grouping is actively deepening defence policy coordination to counter…: The informal Squad grouping is actively deepening defence policy coordination to counter ongoing regional militarization.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
"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," said Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles.
CEBU: Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said on Thursday (Oct 29) that China's military build-up was creating a "condition of pressure" in Southeast Asia, and urged allies and partners to deepen cooperation.
Beijing deploys hundreds of coast guard, navy and other vessels to patrol disputed areas of the South China Sea, which it claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that its position has no legal basis.
In July, Australia protested China's test of a nuclear-capable missile in the South Pacific, calling the launch "destabilising".
"We're obviously seeing the biggest conventional military build-up that the world has seen since the end of the Second World War from China," Marles told reporters Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting of Southeast Asian defence ministers in the Philippines.
"There's not an explanation from China as to why it's doing this, and all of that is creating the condition…
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