Philippines, Australia to seal new defence pact as China tensions rise

Ahead of Marles' visit, the Philippine military reported an increase in the presence of Chinese vessels around the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, coinciding with ongoing joint drills between Canberra and Manila.

The 15-day exercise called Alon, a Filipino word for 'wave', began on August 15 and included a joint sail between the navies of the Philippines, Australia and Canada in the South China Sea, an area of flaring tensions following a collision between two Chinese vessels last week.