Australia on Wednesday joined the United States and Japan in expressing concern over Chinese incursions in the West Philippine Sea after Manila protested the presence of more than 200 Chinese vessels moored near the Julian Felipe Reef, which is inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. “We remain concerned about destabilizing actions that could provoke escalation,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson said on Twitter. Robinson said Australia supports an Indo-Pacific region that is secure, open and inclusive.

Requejo, R. E. (2021, March 25). Australia weights in on Chinese boats' intrusion. Manila Standard, pp. A1, A2.