MANILA — The Philippines and Canada have signed a new defense pact aimed at boosting joint military exercises and strengthening regional security amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea.
The agreement, called the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), was signed in Manila on Sunday by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty. It provides a legal framework for the presence of visiting troops during joint exercises and other defense cooperation activities.
Officials said the pact will enhance training, intelligence sharing, and humanitarian coordination, including disaster response operations. McGuinty described the move as part of Canada’s commitment to promoting peace and upholding international law in the Indo-Pacific.
Teodoro said the agreement supports efforts to build a rules-based international order, emphasizing that China’s actions in the region continue to threaten smaller nations. “Who is hegemonic? Who wants to expand their territory in the world? China,” he said.
The Philippines has existing visiting forces agreements with the United States and Australia, and recently concluded similar defense accords with Japan and New Zealand under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Negotiations are ongoing with France and Singapore, while discussions with Britain, Germany, and India are being considered.
Canada’s deal with the Philippines follows a broader effort by Western nations to increase their presence in the Indo-Pacific, supporting regional allies and countering what they describe as China’s coercive behavior.
China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that invalidated its sweeping claims, has not yet commented on the new pact. In recent months, Beijing has used water cannons and aggressive blocking maneuvers against Philippine vessels, leading to collisions and injuries to crew members.
At a recent ASEAN defense ministers’ meeting in Malaysia, Teodoro denounced China’s plan to establish a so-called “nature reserve” in the Scarborough Shoal, a resource-rich area within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. He described the move as “a veiled attempt to wield military might and undermine the rights of smaller countries.”
Canada had earlier criticized the same plan, saying it opposes attempts to use environmental protection as a pretext for territorial control. Ottawa also condemned China’s use of force against Philippine ships in the disputed waters.
Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman reaffirmed his country’s position, saying Canada “will continue to speak out against provocative and unlawful actions in the region’s waters.”
The two countries have steadily expanded their defense cooperation. In 2023, they signed a Defense Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding and a Dark Vessel Detection Agreement, which provides the Philippines with access to satellite data used to track vessels that turn off location devices to evade monitoring. The technology has since been used to identify Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels in Philippine waters.
The latest defense accord marks another milestone in the Philippines’ efforts to build strong alliances and protect its sovereignty amid intensifying maritime disputes with China.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
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