Soundings Papers: Exploring the Philippines and Australia’s Maritime Security Cooperation against Terrorism and other Transnational Crimes

The Philippines plays an important geopolitical role in the Indo-Pacific region because it occupies a geostrategic location among the Americas, Oceania and Asia. It connects Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Most of the world’s important sea and shipping routes between Australia and China pass through the Sulu Sea in the Philippine Archipelago, a reality that compels Australia to maintain and enhance closer relationships with the Philippines.