Indo-Pacific Explainer: The Philippines

The Philippines matters to Australia, and the wider region. The country has the second-largest population in Southeast Asia and is one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Its strategic location puts Manila close to key trade routes but also geopolitical flashpoints in the Indo-Pacific – notably Taiwan and the South China Sea. Finally, the Philippines has one of the largest diaspora communities. More than 10 million Filipinos live and work overseas, approximately 250,000 of them in Australia. Their remittances amounted to US$ 37,2 billion in 2023 or 8.5 per cent of the Philippines’ GDP.