Australia is considering doing more military work with the Philippines as Anthony Albanese prepares to become the first sitting prime minister to visit the country in 20 years.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australia was looking at teaming up with the Philippines for joint naval patrols in the South China Sea.

Mr Marles was visiting the country on Friday for talks with his Filipino counterpart.

“We are certainly interested in doing more work with the Philippines in the maritime domain,” he told ABC Radio on Friday.

“We saw (earlier this year) that doing joint sails between our navies was a step that would be useful for both our countries and in both of our national interests.

“That’s certainly a path that we’re keen to walk down and we hope to see more of that soon.”

Tensions have been high in the South China Sea, with a Chinese ship blocking and firing a water cannon at a boat from the Philippines.

Mr Albanese will travel to the Philippines early next month and hold talks with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Mr Marles said the relationship between the two countries had the potential to expand.

“In amongst ASEAN countries, the Philippines itself is a country with whom we’ve had a very long relationship, actually a very strong personal relationship,” he said.

“We are now seeing a strategic dimension to the relationship and in that sense we see a greater strategic alignment between our two countries than we perhaps ever have in our history.”

– AAP