Australia and Philippines sign new defence pact in Manila

Australia and the Philippines signed a new defence cooperation agreement in the Philippine capital, Manila, on 15 November, aiming to make joint patrols, military exercises and disaster relief operations easier to organise. Philippine officials said the deal comes amid tensions in the South China Sea, where several countries have competing claims.

The document was signed by Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the ceremony during a visit to Manila for regional summits.

What the agreement covers

The Defence Cooperation Arrangement updates a 1995 agreement. It builds on a separate visiting forces agreement, in force since 2012, which already lets troops from each country train on the other's territory.

Teodoro said the new arrangement would simplify procedures for joint activities. In his words, instead of 100 steps to do a single thing, it would now take 10. He said closer cooperation among the countries' naval, air and ground forces would help the Philippines deter threats, including in the South China Sea.

Australia said the agreement covers information sharing, military planning and training, monitoring activity at sea and developing defence infrastructure. Asked whether the pact was meant to counter China, Albanese said it was not aimed at any one country but at supporting the sovereignty of every country. He added that most Australian trade passes through the South China Sea, stressing the importance of keeping shipping routes open.

Australia also announced extra funding for its Southeast Asia Maritime Partnerships programme. Regional partners will receive aerial and surface drones, secure communications equipment and training to detect and respond to threats at sea and to cyberattacks. No funding figure was given.

Manila widens its partnerships

The agreement follows several recent moves by the Philippines to strengthen military ties. On 9 November, Japan agreed to supply coastal radar and surveillance drones to the Philippine military under a 4.3 billion yen (€24 million) grant. On 10 November, Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States committed to a joint military coordination centre in the Philippines.

China's claims in the South China Sea overlap with those of the Philippines and several other Southeast Asian countries. Beijing has previously criticised Manila's joint military activities with partners, saying they raise regional tensions. An international tribunal ruled in 2016 that China's claims of historic rights to resources had no legal basis where they exceeded rights granted by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Beijing rejects the ruling.