"The Philippines and Canada have signed a defence pact to expand joint military drills and deepen security cooperation in a move widely seen as a response to China's growing assertiveness in the region, most notably in the disputed South China Sea. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty inked the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) on Sunday after a closed-door meeting in Manila."
"China has not yet commented on the deal, but it has frequently accused the Philippines of being a troublemaker and saboteur of regional stability after joint patrols and military exercises with its Western allies in the South China Sea. Beijing claims almost the entire waterway, a vital global shipping lane, thereby ignoring a 2016 international tribunal ruling that dismissed its territorial claims as unlawful. Chinese coastguard vessels have repeatedly used water cannon and blocking tactics against Philippine ships, leading to collisions and injuries."
Philippines and Canada signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) to expand joint military drills, information sharing, and security cooperation, including coordination during humanitarian crises and natural disasters. The pact provides a legal framework for Canadian troops to participate in exercises in the Philippines and mirrors accords Manila has with the United States, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr framed the agreement as vital to upholding a rules-based international order and accused China of expansionism in the Asia-Pacific. Beijing claims almost the entire South China Sea and has used coastguard water cannon and blocking tactics against Philippine vessels, causing collisions and injuries.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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