Australia will ramp up joint security patrols with the Philippines to counter China’s “aggressive” behaviour in the South China Sea. Defence Minister Richard Marles flew to Manila for talks with his Filipino counterpart Gilberto Teodoro on Friday. He announced that more than 2,000 Australian and Philippine defence personnel will undergoContinue Reading
A United States naval vessel has become the first ever to be commissioned in Australia. The USS Canberra was commissioned in a ceremony in Sydney on Saturday, meaning it is now officially in active service. The Independence-class littoral combat ship was designed by Australian shipbuilders Austal Limited in Fremantle, WesternContinue Reading
Despite concerns Australia’s planned military upscaling could dampen any trade or diplomatic breakthrough with China, the latest minister to visit Beijing says it was “not mentioned” during the meeting. Instead, a “successful” meeting between Trade Minister Don Farrell and his Beijing counterpart Wang Wentao last week could ensure Australian barleyContinue Reading
The Philippines is making a “David versus Goliath” stand in the South China Sea, and it hopes its courage against overwhelming odds will reign in China’s growing aggression. This new tactic is already having the desired effect. Washington has demanded Beijing stop “harassment and intimidation” of Philippine fishing and coastContinue Reading
When Paul Keating finally won his spectacular double-tap leadership coup against Bob Hawke in 1991, legend has it he sent a message to Hawke’s jittery praetorian guard: “Peace in our time.” In other words, there would be no reprisals, no payback, no stripping of ministries for those who had theContinue Reading
Jakarta is calling Beijing’s bluff. Indonesia has moved to revive regional talks on China’s long demanded “code of conduct” for the South China Sea. Will it force the new, “loveable” Xi Jinping to reveal his true colours? Beijing is demanding that Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan surrenderContinue Reading