Australia, Vietnam boost military ties in nod to China

Australia and Vietnam announced on Tuesday that they would strengthen military cooperation amid growing concerns over China's expanding influence in the Pacific and the South China Sea. During a meeting in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Vietnamese President To Lam discussed intensifying collaboration between their defense forces in maritime security and joint training exercises.

Albanese emphasized the importance of such partnerships in an uncertain world, stating that friends must engage on multiple levels, including economic, social, and environmental, to address the challenges ahead.

The Vietnamese leader's visit to Australia comes as both nations grapple with China's burgeoning military presence in the region. Vietnam is among several countries with territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a body of water that Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that contradicts its claim. Australia, meanwhile, is modernizing its defense forces and welcoming a larger US military presence to counter China's build-up.

Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles highlighted that expanding ties with Vietnam would "directly contribute to the stability and security of our region." The announcement coincided with a series of agreements between Canberra and Hanoi, which included reinforcing economic resilience and restarting Australian game meat exports to Vietnam, including kangaroo.