Philippines, US sign military intelligence-sharing deal to counter China
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Philippines, US sign military intelligence-sharing deal to counter China

Al Jazeera  

The deal allows for classified information sharing that could benefit a US ally’s defence and streamlines the sale of certain classified technologies. The Philippines and the United States have signed a military intelligence-sharing deal, in a further deepening of security ties between the two defence treaty allies as they seek to counter a resurgent China. The deal, called the General Security of Military Information Agreement, allows for the sharing of classified information that could benefit a US ally’s national defence, and streamlines the sale of certain classified technologies, officials said. In 2023, Austin also visited the Philippines as the two countries announced a deal allowing US troops access to four more military bases in the country. The DND said Austin is also due to visit the western island of Palawan on Tuesday for a meeting with officials of the Philippine forces responsible for patrolling the South China Sea.

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History of this topic

US defense chief says alliance with Philippines will transcend administrations
1 month, 3 weeks ago

US defense chief says alliance with Philippines will transcend administrations

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday condemned China’s dangerous actions against the Philippines and renewed a warning that the United States would defend its treaty ally if Filipino forces come under an armed attack in the increasingly volatile waters. During a visit to the Philippine province of Palawan next to the disputed South China Sea, Austin …

US and Philippines sign a pact to secure shared military intelligence and weapons technology
1 month, 3 weeks ago

US and Philippines sign a pact to secure shared military intelligence and weapons technology

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — The United States and the Philippines signed an agreement on Monday to secure the exchange of highly confidential military intelligence and technology in key weapons the U.S. would provide to Manila. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, signed the legally binding General Security of Military Information Agreement in Manila at a time when …

US, Philippines sign deal on sharing military information
1 month, 3 weeks ago

US, Philippines sign deal on sharing military information

New Indian Express  

"This centre will enable real-time information sharing for a common operating picture. 'Combine strengths' Philippine military chief General Romeo Brawner said the centre would "enhance our ability to collaborate during crises, fostering an environment where our strengths combine to safeguard peace and security in our region". Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said any military agreement or security cooperation must …

Philippine defense secretary doesn’t expect Trump will demand payment for protection
1 month, 4 weeks ago

Philippine defense secretary doesn’t expect Trump will demand payment for protection

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said Tuesday that he didn’t expect President-elect Donald Trump’s next administration would demand that the Philippines pay more for military protection because both allies faced the shared threat of China. Asked if Trump would expect the Philippines, like Taiwan, to pay for U.S. protection, Teodoro replied: “I really don’t expect some sort …

Military aid for Manila sparks huge controversy
5 months, 1 week ago

Military aid for Manila sparks huge controversy

China Daily  

The US government has pledged an additional $500 million in foreign military financing to the Philippines, a move that experts say aims to "provoke" China amid tensions in the South China Sea. Following the dialogue, Blinken said the "once-in-a-generation investment" will help modernize the Philippine Armed Forces and Coast Guard and raise US investments in the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement. …

Philippines and Singapore broaden defense ties with a new agreement
5 months, 2 weeks ago

Philippines and Singapore broaden defense ties with a new agreement

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Singapore signed a defense pact Wednesday that will allow their militaries to broaden their engagement, but few details were given about how the agreement could help address their security concerns in a region rife with conflicts. A Singaporean and two Philippine officials said the agreement is not a so-called status-of-forces agreement that the Philippines …

Japan, Philippines sign defence pact in the face of shared alarm over China
6 months ago

Japan, Philippines sign defence pact in the face of shared alarm over China

The Hindu  

Japan and the Philippines signed a key defence pact on July 8 allowing the deployment of Japanese forces for joint military exercises, including live-fire drills, to the Southeast Asian nation that came under brutal Japanese occupation in World War II but is now building an alliance with Tokyo as they face an increasingly assertive China. “The Reciprocal Access Agreement, which …

Japan and the Philippines sign a defense pact in the face of shared alarm over China
6 months ago

Japan and the Philippines sign a defense pact in the face of shared alarm over China

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — Japan and the Philippines signed a key defense pact Monday allowing the deployment of Japanese forces for joint drills in the Southeast Asian nation that came under brutal Japanese occupation in World War II but is now building an alliance with Tokyo as both face an increasingly assertive China. In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said …

Japan, Philippines sign defence pact with eyes on China
6 months ago

Japan, Philippines sign defence pact with eyes on China

Al Jazeera  

Agreement comes as Manila and Tokyo share concerns about Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the region. Japan and the Philippines have signed a defence pact allowing the deployment of troops on each other’s soil amid shared concerns over China’s growing military power. The agreement comes as Japan and the Philippines, both long-standing allies of the United States, are wary of China’s …

Philippines, Japan on verge of key defence pact
6 months ago

Philippines, Japan on verge of key defence pact

Hindustan Times  

The Philippines and Japan are set to sign on Monday a key defence pact that will allow the deployment of troops on each other's territory. Philippines, Japan on verge of key defence pact Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will hold high-level talks with their Philippine counterparts Gilberto Teodoro and Enrique Manalo in Manila. The Philippines …

Japan and Philippines trying to finish defense pact for signing in Manila as alarm grows over China
6 months, 2 weeks ago

Japan and Philippines trying to finish defense pact for signing in Manila as alarm grows over China

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — Top defense and foreign affairs officials of Japan and the Philippines will meet in Manila next month to strengthen strategic ties and discuss regional concerns, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday at a time of escalating concerns over China’s actions in the disputed South China Sea. Marcos said last year that the proposed defense pact …

Philippines says it will forge security alliances and stage combat drills despite China’s opposition
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Philippines says it will forge security alliances and stage combat drills despite China’s opposition

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will continue to build security alliances and stage joint combat drills in disputed waters to defend its territorial interests, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said Friday, dismissing China’s criticisms of such moves as paranoia. Since territorial hostilities with China surged last year in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration has taken steps …

Defense chiefs from U.S., Australia, Japan and Philippines vow to deepen cooperation
8 months, 1 week ago

Defense chiefs from U.S., Australia, Japan and Philippines vow to deepen cooperation

LA Times  

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met in Hawaii with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the Philippines. Defense chiefs from the U.S., Australia, Japan and the Philippines vowed to deepen their cooperation as they gathered in Hawaii for their second-ever joint meeting amid concerns about China‘s operations in the South China Sea. The meeting came after the four countries last month …

China, US defence chiefs hold first substantive talks in nearly 18 months
8 months, 3 weeks ago

China, US defence chiefs hold first substantive talks in nearly 18 months

Al Jazeera  

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun have held their first substantive talks in nearly 18 months as the two countries work to restore military ties. It said Austin “underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea”. “The US side should …

Australia to provide surveillance drones to Philippines amid South China Sea tensions
1 year, 7 months ago

Australia to provide surveillance drones to Philippines amid South China Sea tensions

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Australia will provide surveillance drones …

Australia to provide surveillance drones to Philippines amid South China Sea tensions
1 year, 7 months ago

Australia to provide surveillance drones to Philippines amid South China Sea tensions

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — Australia will provide surveillance drones and other high-tech gear to the Philippine coast guard and is considering whether to take part in joint patrols in the disputed South China Sea, Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Thursday. Wong, who held talks in Manila with her counterpart, Enrique Manalo, also thanked the Philippine government for its help in …

‘Ironclad’: Biden, Marcos Jr affirm US-Philippines security ties
1 year, 8 months ago

‘Ironclad’: Biden, Marcos Jr affirm US-Philippines security ties

Al Jazeera  

United States President Joe Biden has assured his Philippines counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr that the US commitment to the defence of its Southeast Asian ally remains “ironclad,” including in the disputed South China Sea. Marcos, on the first White House visit by a Philippines leader in 10 years, stressed it was “only natural” for Manila to be close to its …

Philippines, China commit to resolving maritime disputes, strengthen bilateral relations
1 year, 8 months ago

Philippines, China commit to resolving maritime disputes, strengthen bilateral relations

Firstpost  

China and the Philippines on Saturday agreed to cooperate in resolving their maritime disputes in the South China Sea, where the two countries have conflicting claims Manila: China and the Philippines on Saturday agreed to cooperate in resolving their maritime disputes in the South China Sea, where the two countries have conflicting claims. As he began talks with Chinese Foreign …

China warns as US, Philippines stage combat drills
1 year, 8 months ago

China warns as US, Philippines stage combat drills

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. When asked to comment on …

China warns as US, Philippines stage combat drills
1 year, 8 months ago

China warns as US, Philippines stage combat drills

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — China warned on Wednesday that a deepening security alliance between the United States and the Philippines should not harm its security and territorial interests and interfere in long-simmering territorial disputes in the South China Sea. When asked to comment on the combat exercises between American and Filipino forces that started on Tuesday in the Philippines, the Chinese …

Philippines, China to use diplomacy to address boundary disputes
1 year, 9 months ago

Philippines, China to use diplomacy to address boundary disputes

Firstpost  

The Philippines hosted this week the first in-person meeting between diplomats from the countries since before the pandemic, amid a flare-up in tensions over what Manila described as China’s “aggressive activities” in the South China Sea Manila: Maritime issues between the Philippines and China remain a “serious concern”, a Philippine official said on Friday, as the countries pledged to use …

Chinese diplomats oppose US military presence in Philippines
1 year, 9 months ago

Chinese diplomats oppose US military presence in Philippines

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — Chinese diplomats expressed their strong opposition to an expanded United States military presence in the Philippines in closed-door talks with their Filipino counterparts Thursday in Manila, a Filipino official said, underscoring the intense U.S.-China rivalry in the region. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong and Philippine Foreign Undersecretary Theresa Lazaro led the talks aimed at assessing overall …

China, Philippines assess ties amid escalating sea disputes
1 year, 9 months ago

China, Philippines assess ties amid escalating sea disputes

The Hindu  

Senior Chinese and Filipino diplomats were meeting in Manila on March 23 to review their relations amid thorny issues, including Beijing's alarm over a Philippine decision to allow the U.S. military to expand its presence to a northern region facing the Taiwan Strait and escalating spats in the disputed South China Sea. Philippines urges China to halt any “provocative act” …

Marcos defends US military presence, which China opposes
1 year, 9 months ago

Marcos defends US military presence, which China opposes

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday defended his decision to allow a larger United States military presence in the country as vital to territorial defense despite China’s fierce opposition and warning that it would “drag the Philippines into the abyss of geopolitical strife.” The Marcos administration announced in early February that it would allow rotating batches of …

Philippines eyes South China Sea patrols with US, Australia
1 year, 10 months ago

Philippines eyes South China Sea patrols with US, Australia

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is in talks with the United States as well as Australia on future joint patrols in the South China Sea, where China’s increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed waters are causing concern, top defense officials in the three nations said Wednesday. “The two leaders discussed proposals to deepen operational cooperation and enhance the United States …

U.S., Philippines agree to larger American military presence
1 year, 11 months ago

U.S., Philippines agree to larger American military presence

The Hindu  

The United States and the Philippines on February 2 announced plans to expand America's military presence in the Southeast Asian nation, with access to four more bases as they seek to deter China’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea. Mr. Austin arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday from South Korea, where he said the …

US, Philippine forces hold combat drills to brace for crisis
2 years, 3 months ago

US, Philippine forces hold combat drills to brace for crisis

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — More than 2,500 U.S. and Philippine marines joined combat exercises Monday to respond to any sudden crisis in a region long on tenterhooks over South China Sea territorial disputes and increasing tensions over Taiwan. Called Kamandag, the Tagalog acronym for “Cooperation of the Warriors of the Sea,” the drills involve 1,900 U.S. Marines and more than 600 …

U. S. warns it will defend ally if China breaks sea ruling
2 years, 5 months ago

U. S. warns it will defend ally if China breaks sea ruling

The Hindu  

U. S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed a call to China to comply with a 2016 arbitration ruling that invalidated Beijing's vast claims in the South China Sea and warned that Washington is obligated to defend treaty ally Philippines if its forces, vessels or aircraft come under attack in the disputed waters. “We also reaffirm that an armed attack …

US, Philippines assessing defense treaty, China wary
3 years, 3 months ago

US, Philippines assessing defense treaty, China wary

Associated Press  

MANILA, Philippines — U.S. and Philippine military officials have held initial talks to assess the future of their countries’ 70-year Mutual Defense Treaty, including revising it in a possible move that has made China wary, the Philippine defense chief said Thursday. American officials have repeatedly assured their Philippine counterparts that they would honor their treaty obligations if Filipino forces, ships …

Philippines strongman tells the U.S. he’s terminating a major security pact
4 years, 11 months ago

Philippines strongman tells the U.S. he’s terminating a major security pact

LA Times  

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told the U.S. Tuesday that he was scrapping a 2-decade-old defense agreement, throwing one of Washington’s most important security alliances in Asia into disarray. “The American and Filipino defense establishments will be working frantically to prevent VFA expiration by trying to convince their respective leaders of its value,” said Derek Grossman, a senior defense analyst at …

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