South China Sea Philippines France Military Alliance China Philippines ASEAN Defense — Philippine and French military officials shake hands in Paris after signing a landmark defense agreement that lets their troops train side by side for the very first time.

Philippines and France sign landmark pact to deepen military cooperation ties

Manila Signs Historic Defense Pact With Paris as China Tensions Boil Over in the South China Sea

By Fahad On Mar 27, 2026

Philippines & France – (Web Desk) – The Philippines just made history. It signed a military deal with France allowing their troops to train together on each other’s land. This is the first agreement of its kind between Manila and a European nation.

The Philippines has been busy. Over the past two years it also locked in similar deals with Japan, Canada and New Zealand. The reason is simple. China keeps pushing its luck in the South China Sea and Manila wants strong friends nearby.

China claims almost the whole South China Sea as its own. An international court already ruled against that claim. But Beijing ignores it. Tensions stay high.

The new deal called a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement was signed in Paris last Thursday. It opens the door for French ground troops to do more than just watch. Before this they only attended Philippine-US military drills as observers.

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The same day the deal was signed Manila accused China of pulling a dangerous stunt near Pag-asa Island. A Chinese navy ship cut dangerously close to the Philippine vessel BRP Benguet. Less than 10 metres separated the two ships.

A Philippine colonel said it plainly. “That’s unsafe. That’s provocative.” The Chinese Embassy stayed silent.