Canada, Philippines to signal defence pact to spice up fight drills, deter China’s aggression

Canada and the Philippines, each staunch critics of China’s more and more coercive actions within the disputed South China Sea, had been to signal a key defence settlement on Sunday (November 2, 2025) that will permit their forces to carry joint battle-readiness drills and broaden an internet of safety alliances to discourage aggression, Philippine officers mentioned.

Canada and different Western nations have been bolstering their army presence within the Indo-Pacific to assist promote the rule of legislation and broaden commerce and funding within the area. The strikes align with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s efforts to construct defence ties with different nations to assist his nation’s underfunded army face a militarily superior China within the disputed waters.

There was no instant remark from China, which has accused the Philippines of being a “troublemaker” and a “saboteur of regional stability” for staging joint patrols and fight drills with the United States and different nations within the South China Sea. Beijing claims the waterway, a significant commerce route, just about in its entirety, regardless of a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated these claims based mostly on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

China has dismissed the ruling and continues to defy it. It has employed highly effective water cannons and harmful blocking manoeuvres in opposition to Philippine coast guard and fisheries vessels within the disputed waters. This resulted in minor collisions and accidents to Filipino personnel. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan have additionally been concerned within the long-simmering territorial disputes.

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. would signal the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement along with his Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, after a gathering in Manila on Sunday (November 2), the Department of National Defence in Manila mentioned. The settlement takes impact after ratification.

Such agreements present a authorized framework for momentary visits by overseas troops with their weapons and large-scale fight workouts in both territory of the signatory nations.

The Philippines signed the primary such defence pact with its long-time treaty ally, the United States, in 1998, adopted by an analogous accord with Australia 9 years later. The settlement with Canada can be the third signed underneath Marcos, following related agreements with Japan and New Zealand.

Talks are ongoing with France and Singapore for related agreements. Efforts are additionally underway to launch related negotiations with the United Kingdom and probably with Germany and India, Mr. Teodoro and different officers mentioned.

Mr. Teodoro renewed his criticisms of China’s actions within the South China Sea in an annual assembly of Defence Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with Asian and Western counterparts on Saturday (November 1, 2025) in Malaysia. He condemned a current announcement by China that it might set up a “nature reserve” within the Scarborough Shoal, a wealthy fishing space claimed by Manila and Beijing.

“This, to us, is a veiled try to wield army would possibly and the specter of using pressure, undermining the rights of smaller nations and their residents who depend on the bounty of those waters,” Mr. Teodoro mentioned.

Canada criticised China’s plan when it was introduced in September, saying it opposes “makes an attempt to make use of environmental safety as a technique to take management” of Scarborough. When Chinese ships tried to forcibly drive away Philippine vessels within the shoal, additionally in September, Canada expressed concern, criticising “China’s harmful use of water cannons“, which injured a civilian Filipino fisheries officer throughout the Scarborough face-off.

Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman has mentioned his nation has “been vocal in confronting the provocative and illegal actions of the People’s Republic of China within the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea” and ”will proceed to take action.”

Last yr, Canada signed a defence cooperation settlement with the Philippines. Another settlement signed in Ottawa in 2023 gave the Philippines entry to information from Canada’s “Dark Vessel Detection System, which harnesses satellite tv for pc know-how to trace unlawful vessels even when they swap off their location-transmitting units.

The Philippine Coast Guard has used the high-tech Canadian know-how to trace Chinese Coast Guard ships and fishing vessels within the South China Sea.