Philippines, Australia aim to sign new defence pact

MANILA: The Philippines and Australia plan to sign a new pact to develop the Southeast Asian nation’s military infrastructure, their defence chiefs said on Friday, as they seek to counter China’s “unilateral activities” in the region.

The plan was announced as Australia and the Philippines staged joint military exercises, which included live-fire drills and involved about 3,600 personnel, in the western and northern Philippines.

Beijing and Manila have had a series of confrontations in the disputed South China Sea, a crucial waterway China claims in almost its entirety despite an international ruling that its stance has no legal basis.