Canada, Philippines sign defence pact to deter Beijing in South China Sea
China has frequently accused the Philippines of acting as a ‘troublemaker’ and ‘saboteur of regional stability’. 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. McGuinty said the deal would strengthen joint training, information sharing, and coordination during humanitarian crises and natural disasters. Teodoro described the pact as vital for upholding what he called a rules-based international order in the Asia-Pacific, where he accused China of expansionism. “Who is hegemonic? Who wants to expand their territory in the world? China,” he told reporters. The agreement provides the legal framework for Canadian troops to take part in military exercises in the Philippines and vice versa. It mirrors similar accords Manila has signed with the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand. 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.