On May 16–18, 2023, Senator the Honorable Penny Wong, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, travelled to the Philippines on the invitation of Secretary for Foreign Affairs Enrique A. Manalo.
The Comprehensive Partnership between the Philippines and Australia, fashioned by 77 years of close engagement and cooperation and governed by the Philippines-Australia Plan of Action 2021–2022, was positively evaluated by Secretary Manalo and Minister Wong at their bilateral meeting. They discussed the developments and reaffirmed their commitment to transforming their bilateral ties into Strategic Partnerships.
The meeting between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting on November 19, 2022, and the productive visits the Philippines this year by Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell were highlighted by Secretary Manalo and Minister Wong.
The Secretary and the Minister acknowledged the multifaceted and long-standing partnership between the two nations, including ongoing collaboration in disaster risk reduction, maritime safety, counterterrorism, peacebuilding, law and justice, health, science and innovation, and education and training.
Minister Wong and Secretary Manalo agreed to increase trade and investment relations, including looking into potential collaboration on essential minerals, and to keep looking into ways to strengthen two-way tourism. Both countries looked forward to further enhancing people-to-people ties through the Work and Holiday Visa Arrangement that was now being negotiated between the two nations.
The Secretary and the Minister anticipated that their Foreign Affairs and Trade Departments will call the 6th Philippines-Australia Ministerial Meeting (PAMM), which would take place in Australia in the fourth quarter of 2023.
Minister Wong announced a package of maritime cooperation initiatives based on the extensive and deep naval security cooperation between Australia and the Philippines. These initiatives include technical assistance and capacity building for the Philippine Coast Guard; tools, know-how, and technology to enhance maritime domain awareness and marine protection; help to lessen the environmental effects of the recent oil spill in Mindoro; and support women’s leadership.
An increase in Australia’s ODA to the Philippines, estimated at AUD89.9 million in 2023–2024, was announced by Minister Wong. This money will go toward programs supporting cooperation on shared priorities, such as inclusive economic growth, education, training, scholarships, disaster and climate resilience, and peace and stability in Mindanao.
Additionally, AUD10.95 million has been committed to helping the Philippines build a new immunization information system, a reinforced laboratory network, and a surveillance system to address the pandemic-related delays in routine immunization.
Both parties underlined their commitment to assisting Australia’s and the Philippines’ bids for the UN Security Council in 2029 and 2030, respectively.
The Secretary and Minister discussed the region, especially the South China Sea. They agreed on securing an open, prosperous, and stable area where states respect one another’s sovereignty and adhere to established laws and norms. The Secretary and Minister once more stressed all nations’ adherence to international law, including the United Nations Convention based on the Law of Sea. The Secretary recognized Australia’s steadfast backing of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal’s 2016 Award.
Minister Wong underlined Australia’s unwavering support for ASEAN leadership and centrality. The two Ministers applauded the Quad’s commitment to advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific and supporting the implementation of ASEAN Outlook that too on the Indo-Pacific to promote a peaceful, stable, rules-based region with ASEAN at its centre.
The two Ministers are eager to have open discussions about AUKUS in the future, especially with its goal of fostering peace as well as stability in the Indo-Pacific area.
