Overview

• Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr reiterates the country's refusal to cede maritime sovereignty but expresses willingness to work with Beijing, citing shared 'Chinese DNA'.
• Marcos Jnr supports the AUKUS alliance and highlights the strengthening of military and strategic ties with the US and Australia as a counterbalance to China's assertiveness in the South China Sea.
• The Philippines and Australia conduct their first joint patrols in the South China Sea, aiming to counter China's increasing aggression.
• Australia maintains a cautious stance on South China Sea disputes, focusing on economic and security cooperation with ASEAN nations without directly confronting China.
• Marcos Jnr's foreign policy seeks to navigate geopolitical tensions without regressing into Cold War dynamics, emphasizing the Philippines' national interests and regional peace.