By Matthew Knott
Australia, the United States, Japan and the Philippines have made a show of strength against China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific, announcing a plan to increase joint military exercises and boost four-way defence co-operation.
Defence Minister Richard Marles and his American, Japanese and Philippine counterparts gathered in Hawaii on Friday for their second joint meeting, declaring they were committed to defending international law and national sovereignty in the region.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Defence Minister Richard Marles, Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Philippine Secretary for National Defence Gilberto Teodoro jnr vowed to boost defence co-operation.
The meeting came as tensions continued to flare in the South China Sea, with the Philippines accusing China’s coast guard of harassment and damaging two of its boats in the waters near the strategically located Scarborough Shoal.
Australia, the US, Japan and the Philippines held their first joint military exercise in the South China Sea in early April, with naval vessels and aircraft conducting drills within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
“Today, the meetings that we have held represent a very significant message to the region and to the world about four democracies which are committed to the global rules-based order,” Marles said.
“We meet at a time when the global rules-based order is under intense pressure.
“We see that in Ukraine with the appalling invasion by Russia of that country, but we see the global rules-based order under pressure in the Indo-Pacific as well.”
Marles said the four defence ministers had discussed plans to increase the tempo of joint defence exercises and, in particular, to co-operate more closely on strengthening the Philippines’ defensive capabilities.
“Our four countries are utterly committed to asserting freedom of navigation, to asserting the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to asserting the global rules-based order around the oceans of the world, including in the West Philippine Sea,” Marles said.
The US, Australia and Japan also signed a research, development, testing and evaluation arrangement to boost co-operation on the sharing of defence technology.
A satellite image of Scarborough Shoal, known for its rich fishing waters.Credit: Getty
In a clear reference to China, Philippine Secretary for National Defence Gilberto Teodoro jnr said: “It is safe to say that four countries, four independent countries, voicing the same message means an important thing in the face of a unilateral declaration by a single theatre actor ...”
Notably describing the grouping as an alliance, Teodoro jnr said the countries would “work closer together to have more synergies and partnerships in order to make this alliance that we have stronger and more sustainable in the long run”.
The other ministers did not use the term alliance, which implies a formal obligation for nations to consult, and possibly defend each other, if they come under attack.
The four nations have also not yet developed a formal structure akin to the Quad grouping of Australia, the US, Japan and India.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the four nations had gathered because they “share a vision for peace, stability and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific”.
“We’re looking to conduct more maritime exercises and activities among our four countries,” he said.
“We also want to pursue co-ordinated security assistance to the Philippines.
“That will boost interoperability and help the Philippines achieve its defence modernisation goals.”
Justin Bassi, the executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the meeting sent “a direct signal to China that nations stand by the Philippines in the face of bullying and intimidation, and to the broader region that these four countries will uphold international rules, deter breaches and be best positioned to enforce them when needed”.
“The fact this comes so soon after the first-ever joint naval exercises between these nations is important because consistency, rather than having one off or ad hoc events, is needed to have an impact on the relentless persistence of Beijing to achieve its strategic goals including through malign intent,” he said.
Rory Medcalf, head of the Australian National University’s National Security College, said the four-nation grouping had “significant potential” to play an important role in the region and sent an important message of “deterrence and solidarity” to China.
The fact Australia, Japan and the Philippines are all treaty allies of the US makes it, in many ways, a more complementary partnership than the Quad given India is not a US treaty ally, he said.
“There will be more trust in this grouping than with India,” he said.
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