The fifth such meeting in August 2023 reflects growing security ties between the countries, which have both expressed concern about Chinese activity in areas of the busy waterway claimed by the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations.

“What we are seeing is a growing demand from Beijing for us to grant our sovereign rights in the area,” Teodoro said after meeting Australian counterpart Richard Marles, adding that the Philippines was a “victim of Chinese aggression.”

The two nations signed a strategic partnership in September 2023, before holding their first joint maritime and air patrols in the South China Sea months later. This year, the Philippines joined the war games in Australia for the first time.

China and the Philippines have repeatedly fought this year over disputed areas of the South China Sea, including Scarborough Shoal, one of Asia’s most contested features.

On Sunday, China’s Foreign Ministry said its government had defined a baseline of “territorial waters” around Scarborough Shoal in response to the Philippines passing two laws defining its maritime lines and maritime zones to bolster its claims territories around the South China Sea.

The National Maritime Council in Manila said Tuesday it opposed China’s establishment of the reference lines and accused Beijing of violating its sovereignty.

“China’s establishment of baselines around the bank is a continuation of the 2012 illegal seizure of the bank, which the Philippines continues to strongly oppose,” it said in a statement.

Since occupying the shoal in 2012 after a standoff with the Philippines, China has maintained a steady deployment there of coast guards and fishing trawlers, some accused by Manila of being maritime militia.

China claims almost all of the South China Sea, a channel for more than $3 trillion in annual shipping trade, including parts claimed by Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague declared that China’s claims had no legal basis, a ruling that Beijing rejects.

Teodoro said China’s claims and behavior are contrary to international law, and defense agreements with partners such as Australia are an important way to deter Chinese incursions.

“Although they (China) claim to be acting under the auspices of international law, everyone knows that what they are doing is contrary to the principles of international law,” he said.

“The biggest evidence of this is that no one has actually supported his actions or activities.”

In addition to closer ties with countries such as Australia and the United States, the Philippines plans to spend at least $33 billion on new weapons such as advanced fighter jets and medium-range missiles.

Marles said Australia wants to work more closely with the Philippine defense industry and will send an engineering assessment team to the country early next year.