Philippines, New Zealand Sign Defense Pact

The Philippines and New Zealand have signed a defense agreement allowing their armed forces to conduct joint operations in each other’s territories, the Philippine Department of National Defense announced.

The pact creates a legal framework for military cooperation, including joint exercises and other forms of operational collaboration.

The move is part of Manila’s broader push to strengthen security alliances amid growing concern over China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.

While the agreement has been approved by New Zealand, it still requires ratification by the Philippine Senate before coming into force.

Beijing has repeatedly criticized such agreements, calling them destabilizing.

After a similar Philippine-Japanese defense pact signed in July 2024, China’s Foreign Ministry said the region did not need military blocs.

In response, Philippine officials asserted their sovereign right to determine national defense policy.

“These partnerships have become extremely important given everything that is happening,” the Philippine president said.

The Philippines argues that Beijing’s behavior in the South China Sea threatens global commerce by undermining freedom of navigation in one of the world’s busiest maritime corridors.

Manila already has troop deployment agreements with the United States and Australia.

The treaty with Japan was ratified by the Philippine Senate and is expected to be approved by Tokyo’s legislative body in the coming months.

Similar agreements with Canada and France are in progress. Ottawa and Manila have concluded negotiations and are preparing to sign a pact soon, while preliminary talks are underway with Paris.

In addition, French and Philippine officials are currently holding preliminary talks on a troop-positioning agreement before formal negotiations begin.

The trilateral Balikatan exercise earlier this year featured coordinated naval operations between Philippine, U.S., and Japanese forces, underscoring the growing web of regional military partnerships.