Australia has a security interest in the South China Sea and will work more closely with the Philippines on joint patrols in the disputed waters, Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles has said.
Ednews informs via foreign media that Marles made the announcement on Friday while observing some 2,000 Australian and Philippine defence personnel, as well as United States Marines, participate in amphibious landing and air assault drills as part of joint exercises also attended by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.