Australia and the Philippines prepared yesterday to sign a landmark security pact to supply the Southeast Asian country with gunboats and military training to fight terrorists as Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo visited Australia.
The pact would also provide for large-scale joint exercises by the defense forces of Australia and the Philippines, where al-Qaeda-linked militants and other insurgents have a foothold in the country's restive south.
Arroyo arrived in Canberra, overnight and was set to attend ceremonial functions before formal talks with Australian Prime Minister John Howard today, when the leaders were also due to witness the signing of the security agreement.
Arroyo came from New Zealand, the second stop on a three-nation trip that started with Japan, to promote security, economic and business ties.
Philippine defense officials said Australia has promised to donate 28 high-speed gunboats worth about A$4 million (US$3.3 million) to the Philippine military.
Australia has also pledged to continue providing various types of training, including a planned leadership workshop for the Philippine military's 44 two-star generals, said Defense Assistant Secretary Joji Aragon.
The agreement, aspects of which were finalized in talks between senior officials Manila on Tuesday, is a sign of intensifying defense ties between the two nations -- both key US military allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
The gunboats, which can each carry six soldiers and three crewmen and navigate with a global positioning system, are to be delivered in batches starting this year and would likely be used nationwide, including the restive south, said the Philippines' Defense Undersecretary Antonio Santos.
"We have a common [interest] in terms of a peaceful and secure region, and in particular, in dealing with the common threats from terrorists in the region," said senior Australian Defense Ministry official Ben Coleman.
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