Philippines, Canada eye deeper defense ties

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Canada are looking for ways to further deepen their defense relations, particularly in the area of interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region.

The development came after a meeting between Department of National Defense (DND) Senior Undersecretary Carlito Galvez and Canadian Ambassador David Bruce Hartman last week.

DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the two officials committed to work toward the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation.

The agreement would serve as a framework for both defense and military establishments for enhancing interoperability and developing necessary capabilities in addressing security challenges in the region.

During the meeting, Galvez and Hartman discussed the deepening partnership between the Philippines and Canada in areas of defense, commerce, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Canada was among the observer-countries in the latest and biggest iteration of the Philippines-United States Balikatan exercises held last April.

Galvez expressed confidence that bilateral relations between the two countries will continue to progress as the two countries commemorate the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2024.

Andolong said Hartman took the opportunity to further explain Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.

One of the areas of cooperation that Galvez suggested is strengthening capacities in cybersecurity, given the importance of securing confidential computer data systems from unauthorized access, data leakage, malware, among others.

Canada joined last week’s G7 Summit held in Hiroshima, Japan where member-nations declared support for the 2016 international arbitral ruling voiding China’s massive maritime claims in the South and East China Seas, and reaffirming the Philippines’ maritime entitlements.

“There is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region,” Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom said in a communiqué.

Meanwhile, Japan has vowed to continue contributing to the development of coast guards of the Philippines and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The Japan Coast Guard (JCG ) will continue to cooperate with coast guard agencies from other countries to realize a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) based on the rule of law, and will engage actively to contribute to developing coast guard agencies in the Indo-Pacific region,” the Japanese embassy said in a statement.

Three members of the JCG Mobile Cooperation Team (MCT) were sent to Manila to provide capacity-building support to the PCG during a Multinational Vessel Boarding Officer Course held in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan from May 14 to 27. The US Coast Guard also took part in the training.

The MCT is a special team that provides foreign coast guards with technical support for maritime safety and security. MCT members participated as instructors in the training course and trained PCG officers in apprehension techniques.

Also involved in the training were officers from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center and Vietnam Department of Fisheries Surveillance.

Meanwhile, Australian Ambassador Hae Kyong Yu said the Philippines would play a key role in this year’s Indo-Pacific exercise called Endeavor, set for August.

“This year’s Indo-Pacific Endeavor is going to be probably one of the biggest we’ve ever done, with the Philippines right at the center of it,” Yu told ANC’s “Headstart.”

“And as part of that, we’re actually running an exercise called Alon. That’s going to be an amphibious exercise including the Philippines, and most likely the US as well, and Australia,” she said.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced during her Manila visit a package of maritime cooperation initiatives as well as an increase in Australia’s development assistance to the Philippines.

The maritime cooperation initiatives include technical assistance and capacity building for the PCG; equipment, skills and technology to improve maritime domain awareness and marine protection; assistance to mitigate the environmental impacts of the recent oil spill in Mindoro and support for women’s leadership in maritime security. – Pia Lee-Brago