(AFP) — Australia and the Philippines signed a new defence pact on Sunday aimed at fast-tracking military cooperation and “bolstering deterrence” in a region marked by China’s growing military presence.
The agreement, which updates a decades-old memorandum, was signed on the sidelines of a leaders’ meeting in Manila, with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in attendance.
Manila and Canberra have steadily increased defence cooperation in recent years, including joint maritime patrols in the strategically vital South China Sea and land-based military exercises.
US ally the Philippines has been engaged in years of confrontations with China…
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