Description: The Philippines and Canada have reached final stages of negotiations in establishing an extensive defense pact between the countries. Canada has joined the US, Australia and the Philippines in air and naval maneuvers in the disputed South China Sea last year, and ever since cooperated closely to deter Chinese maritime and aerial forces in the region. This would be the third defense agreement between the countries for the past two years which would enable enhanced capabilities in countering Chinese surveillance efforts in the region. The Philippines were also parallelly pursuing similar defense pacts with France and New Zealand.
Impact: With growing tensions in the Indo – Pacific, the defense pact between Canada and the Philippines would solicitate an adequate response from China. Joint military drills from the US – led coalition would further increase in the upcoming period, followed by extensive military and naval cooperation. China has no apparent operational support in the region with its biggest ally Russia being heavily involved in Ukraine and Europe. Chinese forces would bolster their naval capabilities and develop further alliances in the region as the geopolitical landscape further worsens.