Manila, Philippines — France and the Philippines will begin talks next month on a defense pact that would allow each country’s troops to conduct exercises on the other’s territory, the French ambassador said Thursday.
French and Filipino officials will meet in Paris next month to discuss a visiting forces agreement, French Ambassador to the Philippines Marie Fontanel said.
He said the defense chiefs of both countries agreed in Manila last December to pursue such an agreement.
“We will have the opportunity in May to officially start negotiations or at least discuss the modalities,” Fontanel said at a news conference with France’s ambassador to the Indo-Pacific, Marc Abensour.
The Philippines currently has status of forces agreements with the United States and Australia. The agreements provide a legal framework for the entry of foreign forces into a country.
Manila has sought similar deals with other countries, including Japan and France, amid growing disputes with China in the South China Sea. Since last year, Chinese and Philippine coast guard ships and accompanying vessels have been involved in offshore skirmishes that included minor collisions and injuries to Philippine navy personnel near disputed shoals in the disputed waters.
In addition to China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan are also involved in long-running territorial disputes, a potential Asian flashpoint that could put the United States and China on a collision course if the disputes escalate into conflict. elderly.
France has been boosting its security commitments to the Philippines. A French Navy ship will join US and Philippine navies in and near the disputed South China Sea as part of large-scale combat readiness exercises held by Manila and Washington, long-time allies of the treaty, which began on Monday.
Abensour renewed France’s commitment to help maintain freedom of navigation and overflight and respect for the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in the region.
China has sharply criticized the exercises, saying the Philippines was “joining” countries outside Asia, and warned that the exercises could instigate confrontation and undermine regional stability.
The Philippine military dismissed China’s criticism, saying the exercises are aimed at boosting Manila’s territorial defense and are not directed at any particular country.