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

The woody allows for classified accusation sharing that could payment a US ally’s defence and streamlines the merchantability of definite classified technologies.

The Philippines and the United States person signed a subject intelligence-sharing deal, successful a further deepening of information ties betwixt the two defence pact allies arsenic they question to antagonistic a resurgent China.

Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro and his visiting US counterpart Lloyd Austin signed the statement connected Monday during a ceremonial astatine the Department of National Defense (DND) successful the Philippine capital, Manila.

The deal, called the General Security of Military Information Agreement, allows for the sharing of classified accusation that could payment a US ally’s nationalist defence, and streamlines the merchantability of definite classified technologies, officials said.

Austin’s sojourn is his 4th to the Southeast Asian state and apt his past earlier helium relinquishes his station successful January erstwhile erstwhile President Donald Trump returns to the White House.

In a little connection posted connected X, Austin said the US and the Philippines are “committed to deepening our alliance, strengthening determination security, and upholding our shared values successful the Indo-Pacific”.

Teodoro did not marque immoderate remarks astatine the signing ceremony, but the DND said the woody was “a captious measurement to heighten accusation sharing and deepen interoperability betwixt the Philippines and the US”.

Security engagements betwixt Manila and Washington person deepened nether US President Joe Biden and his Philippine counterpart, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, with some leaders anxious to antagonistic what they spot arsenic China’s assertive policies successful the South China Sea and adjacent Taiwan.

The 2 countries person a communal defence pact dating backmost to 1951, which could beryllium invoked if either broadside came nether attack, including successful the South China Sea. In September, the Philippines besides expressed involvement successful acquiring the US Typhon midrange rocket system, which the US brought to the state for associated exercises earlier this year.

In July, the US announced it would supply $500m successful subject backing to the Philippines. In 2023, Austin besides visited the Philippines arsenic the 2 countries announced a woody allowing US troops access to 4 much subject bases successful the country.

China has brushed speech an planetary ruling that its claims regarding the South China Sea person nary ineligible basis, and has deployed navy and coastguard vessels that Manila says harass its vessels and halt them from accessing immoderate reefs and islands successful the waters.

This has led to convulsive confrontations that person resulted successful injuries to Filipino unit and harm to their vessels successful the past 18 months. It has besides led to concerns the US could beryllium drawn into an equipped struggle owed to its defence pact with the Philippines.

Following the signing of the deal, Austin besides held a gathering with Marcos astatine the Malacanang statesmanlike palace.

The DND said Austin is besides owed to sojourn the western land of Palawan connected Tuesday for a gathering with officials of the Philippine forces liable for patrolling the South China Sea.

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Al Jazeera and quality agencies