24-7-2024 (MANILA) The Philippines is set to sign a landmark Defence Cooperation Agreement with Singapore today. This strategic pact, aimed at expanding military engagement between the two nations, comes at a time of heightened territorial tensions in the South China Sea.
Philippine officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro will ink the agreement with his Singaporean counterpart. While specific details of the accord remain undisclosed, it is understood that the pact will facilitate joint military exercises, focusing particularly on humanitarian emergency preparedness and other contingencies.
This latest diplomatic manoeuvre aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr’s broader strategy to strengthen the Philippines’ defence posture through international alliances. The move follows a series of territorial disputes with China, which have intensified over the past year, particularly concerning two contentious shoals in the South China Sea.
In his recent state of the nation address, President Marcos reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to asserting its territorial rights, albeit through peaceful means. He emphasised the importance of building security alliances with “like-minded states” while maintaining a stance of non-aggression in resolving disputes.
The agreement with Singapore is part of a wider diplomatic effort by the Philippines to forge new security partnerships across Asia and the West. Earlier this month, Manila signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, allowing for the mutual deployment of forces for joint military exercises. This agreement, pending ratification by both nations’ legislatures, marks a significant step in countering China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
Sources indicate that the Philippines is also in talks with Canada, New Zealand, and France for similar defence agreements, signalling a concerted effort to diversify its security partnerships.
These diplomatic initiatives come against the backdrop of strengthened ties with the United States. In April, the leaders of Japan, the Philippines, and the US held trilateral talks at the White House, where President Joe Biden reaffirmed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to defend its treaty allies.
