The Philippines and United Kingdom (UK) have renewed their commitment to foster deeper military and defense cooperation amid security challenges in the West Philippine Sea (WPS).
This, as Baroness Annabel Goldie, the UK’s Minister of State for Indo-Pacific Defence Engagement, paid a courtesy visit at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Thursday, Oct. 12.
Goldie and Lt. Gen. William Gonzales, the AFP Inspector General, expressed both countries' commitment to strengthen their relations amid "illegal activities" in the WPS.
"The two officials also upheld their common position on the respect for maritime law and in calling out illegal activities in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone," AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto said, alluding to China's actions.
The UK had called out China several times in the past months because of the latter's incursions in the WPS.
Gonzales extended the AFP’s gratitude to United Kingdom for its support to the military’s peace and development projects, especially in the Bangsamoro region, and to continue activities such as intelligence exchange and training engagements in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) operations; peacekeeping, and counter-violent extremism.
Meanwhile, Goldie stressed how important it is for both countries to continue to find other ways to work together and share expertise and knowledge for their mutual benefit.
The military engagements between the Philippines and United Kingdom are supported by their 2017 Memorandum of Understanding on Defense Cooperation.
HMS Spey, an offshore patrol vessel of UK's Royal Navy, is participating in the SAMA SAMA exercise between the Philippine Navy and United States Navy that also includes contingents from Japan, Canada, France, Australia navies and observers from New Zealand and Indonesia.