This webinar examines how Australia and the Philippines can navigate China’s growing assertiveness in the South China Sea, evolving US engagement and opportunities for regional cooperation.
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.
Image Credit: Google Earth
Event Speakers
Dr Beverley Loke (Chair)
Beverley Loke is Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, ANU, and a Visiting Fellow at RSIS, NTU. Her research focuses on great power responsibility, hegemonic ordering, China’s foreign policy, global knowledge production and Indo-Pacific international relations.
Professor Herman Kraft
Herman Joseph S. Kraft is Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman. His research focuses on ASEAN, regional security in Southeast Asia, security sector reform and maritime security in the Philippines. His recent work examines great power dynamics, ASEAN centrality and Philippine foreign policy.
Emeritus Professor William Tow
William T. Tow is Emeritus Professor at the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, ANU. He has held academic positions at the University of Queensland, Griffith University and the University of Southern California. His research focuses on alliance politics, US security policy, Asia-Pacific security and Australian security policy.
Dr Virgemarie Salazar
Virgemarie Salazar is Assistant Professor of Political Science at UP Diliman, where she teaches international relations and qualitative research. She previously worked at the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs’ Foreign Service Institute. Her research focuses on Southeast Asian regionalism, non-traditional security and Philippine foreign policy.
Ms Alynna Carlos
Alynna Carlos is pursuing a Master of Maritime Policy at the University of Wollongong under the Australia Awards Maritime Security Scholarship. She previously completed a Master of International Studies at the University of the Philippines and has worked at the Presidential Office for Maritime Concerns and National Maritime Council of the Philippines.
Professor Brendan Taylor
Brendan Taylor is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, ANU. He specialises in great power strategic relations, East Asian flashpoints and Asian security architecture. He is the author or editor of 14 books and has published widely on Asia-Pacific security and strategic affairs.