On November 2, 2025, the Philippines and Canada took a significant step in their growing security partnership by signing a defense pact aimed squarely at countering China’s increasingly assertive actions in the disputed South China Sea. The agreement, officially known as the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), was inked in Manila by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Canadian Defense Minister David McGuinty, following a closed-door meeting that underscored the urgency and gravity of the regional security situation.
This pact marks Canada’s first such military agreement with an Indo-Pacific nation, according to Teodoro, and reflects a broader trend: Western nations are ramping up their military presence in the Indo-Pacific, hoping to reinforce the rule of law, expand trade, and deter aggression in one of the world’s most strategically vital waterways. The South China Sea, a major global trade route, has become a flashpoint for territorial disputes, with China claiming nearly the entire area—despite a 2016 international arbitration ruling based on the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea that invalidated such expansive claims.
The new VFA allows Canadian troops to participate in joint exercises with the Philippine military on both land and sea, broadening a relationship that already includes joint maritime patrols. The Royal Canadian Navy began such patrols last year alongside U.S., Australian, Japanese, and Philippine counterparts. Now, the agreement paves the way for Canadian participation in the Philippines’ annual Balikatan military exercises, set for the spring of 2026. As McGuinty explained at the joint press conference, Canada is committed to “moving forward on training fronts, on exchanges with our military colleges, information sharing, understanding cyber security.” He added, “The agreement will deepen the relationship with the Philippine military while advancing Ottawa’s Asia-Pacific strategy, which calls for a forward presence in the region.”
The pact is also designed to streamline information-sharing and cooperation in responding to emergencies, such as natural disasters—an area where both countries have a vested interest. “The agreement will boost joint military training, information-sharing and cooperation in addressing emergencies, including responding to natural disasters,” McGuinty said, as reported by the Associated Press.
For the Philippines, the deal is the latest in a series of defense pacts aimed at shoring up its underfunded military in the face of what it views as a militarily superior China. Manila has already signed similar agreements with the United States (1998), Australia (2007), Japan (2024), and New Zealand (April 2025), and is currently engaged in talks with France and Singapore, with possible negotiations on the horizon with Britain, Germany, and India. Each agreement provides a legal framework for joint exercises and foreign troop visits, helping the Philippines build a coalition of allies to deter Chinese aggression.
The need for such alliances has been underscored by a series of dangerous incidents at sea. China has been accused of using powerful water cannons and dangerous blocking maneuvers against Philippine coast guard and supply vessels, leading to collisions and injuries. According to the Associated Press, these tactics have drawn sharp rebukes not only from the Philippines but also from Canada and other Western nations. In September, Canada condemned China’s “dangerous” use of water cannons after a Filipino official was injured aboard a government vessel.
China, for its part, has dismissed the 2016 arbitration ruling and routinely denounces the Philippines as a “troublemaker” and a “saboteur of regional stability.” There was no immediate comment from Beijing following the announcement of the new pact, but the Chinese government has previously accused Manila of undermining regional peace through its joint patrols and drills with the United States and other allies.
The latest flashpoint came in September 2025, when China announced plans to establish a “nature reserve” at Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing area claimed by both Manila and Beijing. Philippine Defense Secretary Teodoro was unequivocal in his condemnation at the annual meeting of defense ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Malaysia, calling the move “a veiled attempt to wield military might and the threat for use of force, undermining the rights of smaller countries and their citizens who rely on the bounty of these waters.” Canada echoed this sentiment, stating its opposition to “attempts to use environmental protection as a way to take control” of the shoal.
“Who is hegemonic? Who wants to expand their territory in the world? China,” Teodoro told reporters, laying bare the Philippine government’s view of the regional power dynamic.
Canada’s engagement in the region is not limited to military exercises and diplomatic statements. In 2023, Ottawa signed an agreement giving the Philippines access to its “Dark Vessel Detection System,” a satellite-based technology capable of tracking illegal vessels—even those that switch off their location-transmitting devices. The Philippine coast guard has since used this system to monitor Chinese coast guard ships and fishing vessels operating in the South China Sea, according to the Associated Press. Canadian Ambassador to Manila David Hartman has been forthright about his country’s stance, stating that Canada has “been vocal in confronting the provocative and unlawful actions” of China in the region’s waters and “will continue to do so.”
Regional context is crucial here. The South China Sea is not just a bilateral issue between China and the Philippines; other countries, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, are also embroiled in long-running territorial disputes with Beijing. The simmering tensions have led to a growing sense among Southeast Asian nations that collective security arrangements and international partnerships are vital to maintaining stability and protecting their interests.
For President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., strengthening defense ties with countries like Canada is a key part of his administration’s strategy to modernize the Philippine military and assert the country’s rights in the face of what he sees as Chinese intimidation. The agreements with Canada, Japan, and New Zealand—all signed during Marcos’s tenure—signal a clear shift toward a more robust, multi-faceted approach to regional security.
As the ink dries on the new defense pact, both Manila and Ottawa are looking ahead. Canadian officials have expressed hope that their troops will participate in next year’s Balikatan exercises, further cementing the partnership. Meanwhile, ongoing negotiations with other nations suggest that the Philippines is far from finished in its quest to build a coalition capable of deterring aggression and preserving the rule of law in one of the world’s most contested regions.
With tensions in the South China Sea showing no signs of abating, the Philippines and Canada’s new agreement stands as both a practical tool and a potent symbol—a reminder that in today’s complex world, alliances matter more than ever.
