Philippines in talks on visiting forces pacts with three or four more countries, Teodoro says

Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Monday that Manila could widen its network of status of visiting forces agreements to more like-minded countries. Speaking to reporters after a speech in Manila, he added that the Philippines is now considering such pacts with three or four more countries in the Asia-Pacific and Europe, though he did not name them, Taiwan's Central News Agency reported.

Teodoro made the remarks at the opening of the 13th annual general meeting of the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centers, a regional grouping of military peacekeeping schools. He told the gathering that the Philippines already has visiting forces agreements with five of the association's members, namely France, Canada, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

He said those agreements rest on international law, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, interoperability, collective security and deterrence. According to Daily Tribune and The Philippine Star, he said the meeting had made him see the possibility of similar agreements with other countries whose fundamental values do not clash with those of the Philippines.

The Philippines also has a visiting forces agreement with the United States and is negotiating one with the United Kingdom, the Central News Agency noted. Agreements of this kind set the rules for visiting troops and personnel, including criminal jurisdiction and discipline, and give a legal basis for joint exercises, training and other defence cooperation between the signatories.

Teodoro framed the push mainly around peacekeeping. He said wider partnerships could allow more realistic joint training, stronger force protection and better delivery of essential services to communities in conflict zones. He urged the Armed Forces of the Philippines to work actively with regional peacekeeping partners, describing peacekeeping as a form of military diplomacy that builds professional ties and shared knowledge.

He also stressed that peacekeepers need proper rules of engagement, effective command and control and adequate force protection so they can carry out their mandates without being exposed to unnecessary harm. During the ceremony the chairmanship of the association passed from Bangladesh to the Philippines, with the AFP Peacekeeping Operations Center taking over.

Beyond the agreements, Teodoro called for a review of the military's modernisation programme, according to the Central News Agency. He said the current plan, drawn up in 2012, can no longer keep pace with a fast-changing security environment, and that its phased framework should be scrapped so that purchases and their timing are set by actual threats and military needs.

Asked about arms plans for the rest of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term, he said missiles and drones are included, but gave no types or quantities. On relations with Beijing, he said the Philippines had shown considerable restraint, that a return to normal ties depends on China, and that the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling remains Manila's bottom line, the agency reported.

The comments come two days before the Philippines hosts the 20th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting and the 13th ADMM-Plus in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on 28 and 29 October. As chair of both meetings this year, Teodoro is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts on defence cooperation, The Philippine Star reported.