Philippine-Australia relations

Australia, Philippines to Augment Military Drills

November 5, 2012 | Politics & Government

Australian guided missile frigate HMAS Sydney docked at Manila’s south harbor pier, Philippines on Oct. 22, 2012. (AP FILE PHOTO)

ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, Philippines November 4, 2012 (AP) Australia and the Philippines will discuss greater security cooperation and visits by Australian forces for exercises with Filipino troops under a newly approved pact, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said Sunday. The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, ratified by the Philippine Senate in July, allows Australian troops to hold combat exercises with Filipino forces in the Philippines. It Read More …

The Senate should approve defense treaty with Australia

June 13, 2012 | Opinion, Politics & Government

Filipinos protest against the ratification of the RP-Australia Visiting Forces Agreement in front of the Senate building in Pasay city, south of Manila. Image Credit: EPA

Commentary By Perry Diaz What’s going on in the heads of some of our senators?  Haven’t they learned that the Philippines’ defense was weakened when the Senate evicted the U.S. military bases in 1991?  Now, without warships and warplanes to defend our country, our government is begging the United States to promise that she will defend the Philippines from Chinese invasion of the Scarborough Shoal Read More …

A network of alliances

June 9, 2012 | Opinion

Australia-SOVFA

Back Channel By Alejandro Del Rosario  Manila Standard Today A proposed Philippine-Australian Visiting Forces Agreement together with the same military arrangement already existing with the US is the next best thing to having permanent bases with foreign troops in the country. This network of alliances, with another one being eyed with Japan which also fears a powerful China, should be seriously considered as an option. Read More …