The Philippines and the United States signed a significant military intelligence sharing agreement on Monday, November 18, allowing the two allied countries to exchange confidential defense information in real time amid escalating regional tensions, responding jointly to coercive actions by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
The agreement, known as the US-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, was signed by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro at a ceremony in Manila. This marks the last defense agreement signed by the Biden administration in Asia.
Under the treaty, both countries must immediately report any disclosure of shared confidential information. It also allows for mutual security inspections and possible modifications or suspensions if necessary, without setting a deadline.
The bilateral agreement signed on Monday fulfills the commitment made by the two countries during Austin’s visit to Manila in July to complete the agreement by 2025.
According to a joint statement issued by diplomatic and defense officials of both countries in July, the agreement lays the foundation for “strengthening, expanding, and timely sharing of information and defense technologies.”
Teodoro stated at that time that the agreement would provide the Philippines with a way to address future “vulnerabilities” and “unpredictability.”
The US has also signed similar agreements with other major Indo-Pacific allies such as India, South Korea, Australia, and Japan.
As conflicts between Philippine vessels and Chinese ships in the South China Sea increase, the Philippines has actively expanded its defense partnerships this year.
In 2021 alone, the Philippines conducted 10 joint maritime activities with countries that support or recognize the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling. These countries include Australia, Japan, Vietnam, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.
In 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled unanimously on the South China Sea dispute between the Philippines and China, stating that China’s sovereignty claims in the South China Sea were baseless. However, China did not participate in the arbitration and refused to acknowledge the ruling.
The US and the Philippines signed the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951, allowing both parties to invoke the treaty, including in the South China Sea, if either is attacked, to collectively respond to crises.
Under the leadership of Presidents Biden and Marcos of the US and the Philippines respectively, security cooperation between the two countries continues to deepen as they work together to counter Chinese aggression policies in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
In July of this year, the US pledged to provide up to $500 million in military assistance to the Philippines to strengthen its military capabilities.
Previously, under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the Philippines allowed US forces to access an additional four military bases, significantly bolstering US deterrence capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Secretary of Defense Austin’s visit to Manila marks his fourth visit to the Philippines since taking office and his 12th visit to the Indo-Pacific region.
During his visit, Austin will also observe a demonstration of the operations of the T-12 unmanned surface vessel by the Philippine Navy, a critical capability provided by the US to protect the Philippines’ sovereignty in its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.