The Philippines and Australia signed a new defence cooperation arrangement in Manila on Sunday, aimed at accelerating joint military activities and strengthening security ties amid tensions with China in the South China Sea.
The agreement will simplify procedures under the countries' existing Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA), making it easier to coordinate military exercises, operations and other joint activities.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese witnessed the signing during his visit to Manila for the 49th ASEAN Summit, as both countries seek closer defence cooperation and greater maritime security.
Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro described the arrangement as an 'anti-red tape measure' designed to remove bureaucratic obstacles to implementing SOVFA.
'Rather than 100 steps to do a single thing, it will just now take 10,' Teodoro told reporters.
He said the agreement would support closer cooperation between maritime, air and land forces, alongside humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
The arrangement would also strengthen the Philippines' 'credible deterrence posture', including in the South China Sea, Teodoro added.
The Philippines has expanded its defence partnerships while maintaining its longstanding treaty alliance with the U.S., amid growing tensions with Beijing over disputed waters.
China claims large parts of the South China Sea, overlapping with maritime claims by the Philippines and other regional countries.
Australia supports a 2016 international arbitration ruling that rejected the legal basis for China's sweeping maritime claims. Beijing rejects the ruling.
China maintains that its activities in the disputed waters are lawful and professional. It has repeatedly criticised Manila's joint military exercises with foreign partners, arguing that they increase regional tensions.
Albanese said the agreement would strengthen maritime awareness, information sharing, military training and interoperability between Australian and Philippine forces.
It would also support strategic dialogue and defence infrastructure development.
The Australian prime minister announced additional investment in maritime domain awareness, including drone technology, surveillance equipment and training.
The measures are intended to improve the Philippines' ability to detect maritime and cybersecurity threats.
The signing comes as Southeast Asian leaders and international partners gather in Manila for the 49th ASEAN Summit, where regional security and economic cooperation are among the key issues under discussion.
The Philippines and Australia signed a new defence cooperation arrangement in Manila on Sunday, aimed at accelerating joint military activities and...
Southeast Asian leaders opened the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila Sunday, with Myanmar's crisis, security and economic uncertainty dominating talk...
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