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Australia and the Philippines have signed a new defense pact to deepen military cooperation and strengthen Manila's ability to deter potential threats as confrontations with China continue across the disputed South China Sea.
The agreement was signed Sunday in Manila, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese present, who is attending the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown signed the Philippines-Australia Defense Cooperation Arrangement, which updates a 1995 memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation.
The deal comes as Manila faces repeated maritime confrontations with Beijing over competing claims in the strategically important waterway, where Chinese coast guard and naval vessels have repeatedly clashed with Philippine forces.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling that found no legal basis for its sweeping claims. Beijing rejects the ruling.
The updated agreement is designed to cut bureaucratic delays and make it easier for the two countries to coordinate military activities.
"The agreement makes us faster, speedier. It streamlines the coordination process," Teodoro told reporters following the signing ceremony.
He added that the arrangement would "bolster our credible deterrent posture in areas where we have jurisdiction," referring to contested waters in the South China Sea.
The pact will also allow Philippine forces to become more familiar with Australian military equipment and weaponry, helping both sides organize joint training more efficiently.
It expands cooperation across maritime, air and land operations, while also covering humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Australia and the Philippines have maintained a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement since 2012, allowing military personnel from both countries to access each other's territory for training exercises and humanitarian operations.
The agreement comes amid repeated confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels, particularly around the Spratly Islands and Scarborough Shoal.
Clashes have involved water cannons, dangerous blocking maneuvers, vessel collisions and the harassment of Philippine ships operating in disputed waters.
China has also built artificial islands and military facilities across the South China Sea, including in areas claimed by the Philippines.
The latest pact adds to Australia's growing security support for Manila as the two countries seek to strengthen maritime monitoring, information sharing, and military coordination.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles described the agreement as a step toward closer operational cooperation, saying it would "deepen practical cooperation between our defense forces and create new opportunities to work together in support of regional security."
Enhanced maritime activities, intelligence-sharing, and defense infrastructure development are among the agreement's key areas.
Australia has also stepped up its cooperation with the Philippines alongside the United States and Japan, with the four countries expanding joint military exercises and coordination.
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