Canada is in the final stages of negotiating a defense cooperation agreement with the Philippines to expand opportunities to hold military exercises and other defense-related collaborations.
Speaking before Philippine national officials, foreign ambassadors and defense attachés on Friday, Canadian Ambassador David Hartman said the potential visiting forces agreement allows Ottawa to play a bigger role in military training and operations in the country and allies in the Indo-Pacific.
The new deal could be similar to an existing setup between the Southeast Asian nation and Washington. The Philippine government’s current Mutual Defense Treaty with the U.S. allows American forces to be present at certain agreed locations to conduct military exercises and humanitarian missions with their Filipino counterparts.
Manila has been exploring the interest of like-minded nations in improving its defense capabilities amid growing tension with China.
“We have been vocal in confronting the provocative and unlawful actions of the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea,” Hartman said, referring to China’s official name. “We will continue to do so.”
Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru echoed the Canadian envoy’s concerns over Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific in a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday. Among the notable developments in that meeting is the two leaders reaffirming their opposition to China’s provocative efforts in the South China Sea and neighboring waters.