The Philippines and the United States signed an agreement on Monday to share military intelligence, deepening defense ties between the two countries, which face common security challenges in the region. Reuters writes about it, UNN reports.
Details
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin signed the agreement with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro at the military headquarters in Manila. They also laid the groundwork for the construction of a coordination center that will facilitate cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.
The pact, called the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), allows both countries to securely exchange classified military information.
"This will not only allow the Philippines to gain access to higher capabilities and bulky goods from the United States, but will also open up opportunities to conclude similar agreements with like-minded countries," said Arsenio Andolong, a representative of the Philippine Ministry of Defense.
Under the presidency of Joe Biden and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. security relations between the United States and the Philippines have deepened, and both leaders are seeking to counter what they see as China's aggressive policies in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
On Monday, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that any military agreements or security cooperation "should not be directed against or harm the interests of a third party, nor should it undermine regional peace or increase tensions in the region.
"The only right choice to ensure our own national security and maintain peace and stability in the region is to adhere to good neighborly relations and strategic autonomy," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.
The United States and the Philippines have a mutual defense treaty dating back to 1951, which can be used if one of the parties is attacked, particularly in the South China Sea.
"I want to start by emphasizing our unwavering commitment to the Philippines," Austin said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the focal point.
According to Austin, the coordination center is intended to provide real-time information exchange between the two defense treaty allies and increase interoperability.
"It will be a place where our forces can work side by side to meet regional challenges," Austin said.
The Philippines has expressed confidence that the alliance will remain strong under US President-elect Donald Trump.
Addendum
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague declared that China's claims had no legal basis, supporting the Philippines, which filed the lawsuit.
But China rejected the decision, leading to a series of naval and air clashes with the Philippines that turned the strategically important South China Sea into a potential flashpoint for tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Китай викликав посла Філіппін через нові морські закони: що відбувається09.11.24, 00:52