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The Philippines said its visiting forces agreement with Canada is ready for signing, as the Southeast Asian nation builds a coalition of like-minded nations and deterrence amid tensions with China.
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Manila is also negotiating a similar military pact with France, while it’s forging an enhanced defense cooperation with India, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Wednesday at the Reuters NEXT event in Singapore.
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The Philippines said in March that it concluded discussions with Canada for the pact, which would facilitate joint exercises between their militaries. Teodoro didn’t provide a timeline for the signing of the agreement.
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“It is a coalition of unity that we are creating here, to create some momentum in resilience because of our shared desire for a free and open Indo-Pacific” he said.
Manila, a US treaty ally, has also sealed military agreements with Japan and New Zealand.
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