MANILA — The Philippines is looking to forge reciprocal troops access agreements with Canada, France, New Zealand, and other countries, the defence minister said on Monday (July 22). Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told ANC news channel he hoped the agreements could be signed next year.
Secretary Blinken, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan meet with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro, and Philippine National Security Advisor Eduardo M. Año at the Department of State in Washington, US, April 12, 2024.
Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told ANC news channel he hoped the agreements could be signed next year. The agreements would allow greater interoperability, as armed forces of these countries can operate within the Philippine territory and vice-versa, Teodoro said.The Philippines and Japan signed a landmark military pact earlier this month that allows the deployment of forces on each other's soil in the face of China's increasingly assertive stance in the region.
Canada, France, and New Zealand have expressed support for the Philippines' claims within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone. China claims almost the entire South China Sea and rejects a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague that its expansive claims had no basis under international law. The case was brought to the court by the Philippines.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China, Philippines agree on 'provisional arrangement' for South China Sea resupply missions, Manila saysMANILA — The Philippines and China have 'reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement' for resupply missions to a beached naval ship in the South China Sea, Manila's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on July 21.
Read more »
China, Philippines agree on 'provisional arrangement' for South China Sea resupply missions, Manila saysMANILA: The Philippines and China have "reached an understanding on the provisional arrangement" for resupply missions to a beached naval ship in the South China Sea, Manila's foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday (Jul 21).
Read more »
Beijing urges Manila to swiftly find, ‘punish’ perpetrators after Chinese national kidnapped, killed in the PhilippinesThe Chinese embassy in the Philippines has made representations to the government, urging it to step up efforts in handling the case and to “swiftly apprehend and punish the killers”.
Read more »
China, Philippines agree on ‘provisional arrangement’ for South China Sea resupply missionsThe missions will remain “a pure Philippine operation” amid offers for help from the US.
Read more »
China, Philippines agree to lower tensions in South China Sea, boost communicationsBut analysts say there was little sign that either side was ready to back down on their sovereignty claims.
Read more »
Environment in focus as Beijing, Manila spar over fate of warship on disputed shoalChina is playing the environmental card in justifying the removal of the grounded Philippine warship.
Read more »