South China Sea

The condemnation came after the Philippine Coast Guard reported another incident in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal on January 12.

Desalination machines and communications upgrades are slated for the nine features that Manila occupies in the contested waterway.

President Joko Widodo's state visit came in the middle of a Southeast Asian tour that also involved stops in the Philippines and Brunei.

The dueling patrols, which were scheduled to take place on January 3-4, encapsulate the intensifying frictions in the waterway.

The diplomats' statement came after a year of growing Chinese aggression in contested parts of the vital waterway.

“China has been harassing Philippine resupply missions for more than a decade and has been steadily increasing the intensity of their coercive tactics for at least the last five years.”

Australia has an opportunity to play a more proactive role in coordinating a regional framework to address security concerns across numerous domains.

After a tumultuous 2023, the Philippines is set for another year of confrontation in contested waters.

In two separate incidents over the weekend, Chinese vessels collided with and used water cannons against Philippine ships in contested parts of the South China Sea.

The incident is the latest in a string of assertive Chinese actions in waters claimed by Beijing and Manila.

The recent joint patrol is another sign that Beijing's attempts at intimidation in will not be submitted to – not by the Philippines and not by Australia.