On July 22, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro announced that the country aims to establish military cooperation agreements with nations like France, Canada, and New Zealand. This pursuit comes amid ongoing sovereignty disputes with China over the South China Sea.
In an interview with Filipino channel ANC, Teodoro expressed hopes that these partnerships could be finalized as early as 2025. The goal is to enhance the “interoperability” of the armed forces among these countries. He explained that the agreements would be similar to the reciprocal access agreement signed with Japan on July 8.
Teodoro indicated that the Philippines intends to negotiate these Access Agreements (RAA) with Canada, France, New Zealand, and other like-minded nations. Such agreements would enable the armed forces of these countries to operate alongside the Philippine military both in the Philippines and abroad.
While these Access Agreements do not equate to mutual defense treaties, they represent a significant step forward in strengthening military ties. The Philippines currently has reciprocal access agreements in place with Australia and the United Kingdom and maintains a mutual defense treaty with the United States.
The situation in the South China Sea has been tense, with an increase in territorial disputes not only between the Philippines and China but also involving Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Recently, confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have escalated, particularly around the Scarborough and Second Thomas Shoals, where Filipino fishermen often operate.
One notable incident occurred on June 17, when the Chinese Coast Guard surrounded and boarded a Philippine ship involved in a supply mission near Second Thomas, resulting in injuries to a Filipino crew member.
Since Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office in 2022, tensions between China and the Philippines have heightened. Marcos has reinforced military alliances with the United States and expanded access to Philippine bases for American troops, including those in strategic locations near the South China Sea and Taiwan.
However, in recent weeks, both Beijing and Manila have intensified their negotiations to prevent conflicts in the disputed waters. On Sunday, they announced the signing of an agreement aimed at reducing tensions, which could serve to stabilize relations in the region.
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