THE Philippines and New Zealand have concluded negotiations for a status of visiting forces agreement (SOFVA) which will pave the way for the conduct of military exercises between the two sides, the Department of National Defense said yesterday.
In a statement, the DND said both sides are optimistic the agreement will be signed in the second quarter of this year. The two countries began formal negotiations for the SOVFA on January 23.
The Philippines has similar agreements with United States (Visiting Forces Agreement signed in 1998), Australia (SOVFA signed in 2007), and Japan (Reciprocal Access Agreement signed in July last year). The pact with Japan was ratified by the Senate last December but awaiting approval by Japan’s National Diet.
The agreement with New Zealand comes amid China’s continued harassment of Philippine vessels and aircraft in the West Philippine Sea.
DND spokesman Arsenio Andolong said the SOVFA between the Philippines and New Zealand “will bolster defense and military ties between the two countries, enabling the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the New Zealand Defense Force to conduct exercises in each other’s territory.”
He also said signing the SOVFA will be a “significant milestone for the overall bilateral relationship” between Philippines and Zealand which are due to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties next year.
Andolong said the final round of negotiations, hosted by New Zealand, was concluded on Wednesday “via a hybrid arrangement.”
The Philippine delegation was headed by DND undersecretary for civil, veteran, and reserve affairs Pablo Lorenzo while the New Zealand side was led by Ministry of Defense (MoD) director Kathleen Pearce.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr and visiting Czech Republic Defense Minister Jana Černochová reaffirmed the “enduring ties” between the two countries, during a meeting yesterday at a Makati City hotel.
Andolong said Teodoro provided Černochová updates on the security situation in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) and discussed the country’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept and Self-Reliant Defense Posture Revitalization Act.
“Both sides explored avenues for enhanced cooperation in cybersecurity, focusing on skills development, and the exchange of best practices in addressing hybrid threats and disinformation campaigns,” said Andolong.
Meanwhile, over 50 Chinese maritime militia vessels and one China Coast Guard vessel were sighted yesterday during a maritime domain awareness flight conducted by two aircraft of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), at the vicinity of an island occupied by Philippines in the WPS.
Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard’s (PCG) spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said six other Chinese maritime militia vessels were monitored at an unoccupied reef.
During the operation, he said, the BFAR aircraft “noted the presence of a China Coast Guard vessel with bow number 5101 and over 50 Chinese maritime militia vessels” in Pag-asa Island.
The island, located some 280 nautical miles from mainland Palawan, is the largest among nine features occupied by the Philippines in the WPS.
Tarriela said six Chinese maritime militia vessels were also sighted at Rozul Reef, also known as Iroquois Reef, which is some 138 nautical miles from mainland Palawan.
US, JAPAN WARSHIPS
The US Indo-Pacific Command (US INDOPACOM), meanwhile, said two warships from United States and Japan conducted maritime drills in Philippine waters, specifically in Sulu Sea, on February 9 and 10.
It said the activity included dynamic maneuvering and communications drills, enhancing interoperability of the two sides.
The US INDOPACOM said the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Asahi-class destroyer JS Asahi took part in the exercise.
It was on February 9 when the Chinese fisheries research vessel, CRV Lan Hai 101, was monitored off Zambales and later passed through the Sulu Sea. It later exited to the West Philippine Sea.
During radio challenge, the Chinese vessel communicated that it came from the Port of Klang in Malaysia and were heading to Shandong, China. It said passed through the country’s archipelagic sea lanes due to inclement weather in the western part of Palawan.
The Philippine military said the Chinese vessel’s passage was “continuous and expeditious,” complying with rules on innocent passage.
“We continue to integrate with partner nations to train, exercise and develop tactical interoperability,” the US INDOPACOM said.
Cdr. Shota Takashiro, commanding officer of JS Asahi, said the activity “enhanced our (Japan) tactical capability and interoperability with the US Navy.”
“We are closely collaborating… in order to contribute to regional stability, as well as a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Takashiro.
The US INDOPACOM said the US Navy regularly operates with its allies in the Indo-Pacific to demonstrate its commitment to upholding international law.
