Philippines to forge new defence ties with Singapore amid China tensions
In his state of the nation address before the Philippine Congress on Monday, Marcos stressed that the Philippines would not back down in the territorial disputes but stressed his administration would only use peaceful means to resolve any dispute and would build security alliances with friendly countries.
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“In the face of challenges to our territorial sovereignty, we will assert our rights and interests in the same fair and pacific way that we have always done,” Marcos said, adding that efforts were continuing “to strengthen our defence posture, both through developing self-reliance and through partnerships with like-minded states.”
Earlier this month, the Philippines and Japan signed a defence pact named the Reciprocal Access Agreement allowing the deployment of their forces in each other’s territory for joint military exercises as both countries face an increasingly assertive China. Japan and the Philippines have separate maritime territorial disputes with China.
The agreement will take effect after it is ratified by the two countries’ legislatures.
The Philippines is holding separate talks with Canada, New Zealand and France on similar defence agreements, the two Philippine officials said.
Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies of the United States and their leaders held three-way talks in April at the White House, where President Joe Biden renewed Washington’s “ironclad” commitment to defend them.