Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, poses for a photo with New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, left, and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro after signing the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, rear right, and New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh, rear left, observe as New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, left, and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro sign the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, shakes hands with New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh, left, as New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, second left, shakes hands with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, second right, after signing the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, meets New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, seventh left, at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, and New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins pose for a photo before the courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, shakes hands with New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins before the courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., left, shakes hands with New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins before the courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippines signs military pact with New Zealand to widen alliances while facing an assertive China
MANILA, Philippines (AP) 鈥 The Philippines signed a military pact with New Zealand Wednesday, allowing their forces to hold joint exercises as Manila continues to build security alliances as it faces an increasingly aggressive China in the disputed South China Sea.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., center, poses for a photo with New Zealand Defense Minister Judith Collins, left, and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro after signing the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) at the Malacanang Palace in Manila Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (Jam Sta Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
MANILA, Philippines (AP) 鈥 The Philippines signed a military pact with New Zealand Wednesday, allowing their forces to hold joint exercises as Manila continues to build security alliances as it faces an increasingly aggressive China in the disputed South China Sea.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the ceremony in Manila, where Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and and his New Zealand counterpart, Judith Collins, inked the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement.
The treaty sets the legal framework to allow military engagements of both countries, including joint drills in each other鈥檚 territory and other cooperative activities. It has been approved by New Zealand officials, but still needs to be ratified by the Philippine Senate for it to take effect.
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China has frowned on the security alliances being pursued by the Philippines, one of the staunchest allies of the United States in Asia, under Marcos.
When the Philippines signed a similar in July, China鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said the region did not need 鈥渕ilitary blocs, let alone small groupings that instigate bloc confrontations or a new Cold War.”
Philippine officials said then that China has no business meddling with their domestic affairs.
“These partnerships have become very important in the face of all that is happening,鈥 Marcos said during Wednesday’s ceremony.
Ahead of the signing, Collins said in a statement that 鈥渨e are committed to reinvigorating our security relationships, to playing our part and working with regional partners such as the Philippines to uphold the international rules-based order.”
told The Associated Press in an interview last month that the Philippines would continue to build security alliances with other friendly countries to deter China鈥檚 aggression.
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China鈥檚 hostile actions, Teodoro said, should be regarded as a global threat because they could eventually restrict movement in the South China Sea, a key global trade route crucial for global supply chains.
China claims virtually the entire South China Sea and has deployed coast guard and navy fleets and suspected militia ships to guard what it says is its territory and airspace. It has used and dangerous blocking maneuvers against Philippine coast guard and fisheries vessels in the disputed waters, causing collisions and injuries on a number of occasions.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claims that clash with China鈥檚, but territorial confrontations have particularly flared between Beijing and Manila in the last two years.
The Philippines has visiting forces agreements with the U.S. and Australia, which has been participating in between American and Filipino forces that include live-fire exercises in or near the South China Sea and in northern Philippine islands just a sea border away from southern Taiwan.
The agreement signed with Japan has been ratified by the Philippine Senate and is expected to be approved by the Japanese legislature in the next few months. and the Philippines have also concluded talks for such a pact, which is expected to be signed 鈥渧ery soon,” Teodoro said in a news conference with Collins.
have been separately holding initial talks also for a visiting forces agreement ahead of formal negotiations.
