Wednesday, 21 October 2026, 17:30 to 19:00 Canberra time (AEDT) / 14:30 to 16:00 Manila time (PST)

Australia-Philippines security cooperation in the South China Sea: Anticipating policy challenges during Trump 2.0 and beyond’

The contemporary regional landscape is dynamic and evolving. As China pursues a more assertive foreign policy and seeks to revise the international order to better align with its interests, Trump’s ‘America First’ approach has generated anxieties among US allies and partners about Washington’s willingness to play its traditional ‘balancing role’ in the region. In this light, how should Australia and the Philippines - as the region’s two key middle powers - navigate a dynamic regional landscape underpinned by Trump 2.0 and China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea?

This seminar introduces a recent ANU Philippines Institute TANAW Policy Brief, ‘Navigating the South China Sea: Regional Power Perspectives in an Era of Rising Sino-American Rivalry’, with panellists examining Australian and Filipino perspectives on the South China Sea as well as the scope for bilateral, minilateral and multilateral regional cooperation.

Research presented in this webinar was supported through the ANU Philippines Institute Grants and Awards Scheme. For more information, see the ANU Philippines Institute's Website here: https://philippinesinstitute.anu.edu.au/grants-awards

The ANU Philippines Institute Research Seminar Series is a recurring seminar series that showcases the work of scholars working on political, social and cultural issues in the Philippines and the wider region, with the goal of encouraging greater exchange, collaboration and networking amongst the research community.

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