Cyber security is national security and regional security

Dear Friends,

Next week, my team and I will welcome Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, Mr. Brendan Dowling, for a jam-packed visit to the Philippines. He will be meeting with government, industry and local experts, to better understand the cyber security challenges and risks facing the Philippines and explore opportunities to enhance cooperation between our two countries. As the world becomes increasingly digital and inter-connected, cyber security has emerged as an important component of national security.

Australia first appointed an Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology back in 2016, in recognition of the growing importance of the digital sphere in Australia’s international engagement. Once a technical issue, cyber affairs is now very much a strategic international policy issue.

While on one hand, increased connectivity has gifted us economic opportunities, instant access to information and the possibility of near-constant communication with our loved ones, on the other hand, it has brought many new challenges and risks, including phishing scams, misinformation, cybercrime and cyber attacks by state-based actors. These challenges defy borders, and thus require transnational solutions and a multi-stakeholder approach to build cyber resilience.

Like the Philippines, Australia released its new Cyber Security Strategy last year. The Strategy outlines Australia’s roadmap to become a world-leading cyber secure and resilient nation by 2030. It comprises six shields of cyber defense. Shield number six is all about building a more resilient region and exercising global leadership in international cyber rules and standards. As Australia’s important neighbor, friend and Strategic Partner, the Philippines is one of our priority countries under the sixth shield. It has never been more important to strengthen our cyber cooperation with the Philippines.

During President Marcos’ state visit to Australia in February this year, our two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cyber and Critical Technology Cooperation to increase cooperation and share information and best practices. But even prior to the MOU, our cooperation with the Philippines on cyber had been steadily growing over the past five years.
Australia has worked with the Philippines on multiple capacity building initiatives, ranging from combatting disinformation and malign influence campaigns, to the development of international standards to support cyber resilience. We have also delivered cyber bootcamps, as well as training and executive courses, that have reached hundreds of participants across the Philippine government.

For many years, Australian law enforcement officials and the Australian embassy have worked with Philippine counterparts to identify, disrupt and dismantle transnational cyber-enabled criminal threats. We have worked side by side with the Philippine government to enhance the child protection system and prevent online sexual exploitation of children.

Our cyber cooperation with the Philippines has also contributed to sustainable economic growth and development. Australia has supported the Philippines to strengthen government systems and develop policies that enable faster, more secure digital transactions.

Looking to the future, Australia recognizes investing in the development of the Philippines’ digital economy contributes to its economic security and prosperity. We are partnering with the Department of Information and Communications Technology in supporting the roll-out of the Philippine National Broadband Plan which will benefit remote and underserviced areas. In addition, co-funding from Australia’s Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre allows us to further assist in developing a reform pathway to improve the diversity, security and resilience of the Philippines’ submarine fiber cable infrastructure.

Australia is seeking to deepen its collaboration with the Philippines and other regional governments through activities on cyber policy and incident response, in which the private sector plays a key role. Australian companies like Telstra, Privasec and Kantanna have been committed to the Philippines for several years. We look forward to more private sector engagements as we better harness the potential of public-private partnerships to tackle cyber security issues.

And just as Australia will continue to support the Philippines in upholding international law in the South China Sea, we will continue to work alongside the Philippines in defending and shaping international law and norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace. Last week, negotiations on the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime concluded in New York, producing a global framework on countering cybercrime. We welcomed the constructive role the Philippines played throughout negotiations. And we are pleased that the finalized text delivers an ambitious and future-proof Convention consistent with the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, to which both the Philippines and Australia are States Parties. The Convention represents a significant milestone in our efforts to enhance criminal justice and address the global threat of cybercrime. It also includes effective safeguards for human rights and forward leaning offenses to criminalize online exploitation and abuse of children.

Australia’s goal is for a safe, secure and prosperous Australia, Indo-Pacific region and world, enabled by cyberspace and critical technology. We see the Philippines as a key partner in achieving this vision. Together, we look forward to tackling cyber challenges and risks and building a cyber resilient region.

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HK Yu is Australia’s Ambassador to the Philippines. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @AusAmbPH.