Philippines, New Zealand aim to complete visiting forces agreement this year

February 5, 2025 | 2:28pm

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and New Zealand are working to finalize a visiting forces agreement this year, officials confirmed Tuesday, February 4 — potentially adding to Manila's growing defense partnerships amid rising tensions in the South China Sea.

Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro expects the agreement to be finalized before year-end, following the first round of negotiations held last month. If signed, the pact would be the Philippines' fourth visiting forces agreement after similar arrangements with the United States, Australia and Japan. 

"There is strong political commitment to conclude a status of visiting forces agreement," New Zealand Ambassador Catherine McIntosh confirmed in a press conference during the embassy's Waitangi Day celebration.

McIntosh said both countries' officials held "productive and constructive discussions" in their first round of negotiations. 

The push for a military pact gained momentum following New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's visit to Manila in April last year, the New Zealand ambassador said.

"We at New Zealand are very motivated by the fact that Prime Minister Luxon was here in Manila and it was a key focus of his visit," McIntosh said.

Teodoro told reporters that he hopes the agreement will be ratified "after the incoming Congress continues." "We really don't know because we just completed the RAA with Japan so we're focusing on this. Hopefully as soon as possible," he said, referring to the recently signed Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan. 

The defense chief told reporters at the same event that the visiting forces agreement with New Zealand will likely "follow the same pattern" as the Philippines' existing agreement with Australia. 

He added that all the Philippines' visiting forces agreement "follow the same mold."

Beyond New Zealand, Manila is currently pursuing similar arrangements with other nations. "Hopefully, we want serious phase of negotiations with Canada to go faster. Also France. As many as possible," Teodoro said. "We need to interoperate. The Philippines Armed Forces needs to train with other armed forces because the dimensions of conflict are changing."

While expressing hope for swift progress, Teodoro was careful not to commit to specific timelines with the other agreements in negotiation, saying "it also depends on the counterpart."

Manila's push for expanded military partnerships with other foreign powers comes amid heightened tensions with China in the South China Sea, particularly in waters that the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea – parts of the sea that fall within the country's 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Since the start of the year, China Coast Guard vessels have been prowling closer to the Philippines' coastline, moving well within its EEZ.

When asked about New Zealand's position in the regional tensions, McIntosh emphasized a de-escalatory approach to recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea. 

"We are deeply concerned by the developments in the West Philippine Sea. New Zealand has been consistent in our messages around de-escalation of tensions," McIntosh said, adding that it encourages countries "to resolve matters peacefully in accordance with international order." 

A visiting forces agreement between the Philippines and New Zealand will reinforce the 2017 memorandum of arrangement between the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with the Ministry of Defense of New Zealand.

New Zealand last year joined the Philippines, Australia, Japan and the United States in a multilateral maritime cooperative activity.