(MENAFN) China stated on Monday that “showing off military strength” does not contribute to peace in the region, following a recent defense pact between the Philippines and Canada.

“China has always held the view that defense and security cooperation between countries should not target any third party or harm the interests of third parties,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a press briefing in Beijing. She added, “Showing off military strength and provoking confrontation are not conducive to regional peace and stability.”

The remarks came after Canada and the Philippines signed a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement on Sunday, enabling both nations to station military personnel in each other’s territory and expand defense collaboration. The deal was finalized following discussions between the Philippine and Canadian defense ministers in Makati.

This agreement is the fifth of its kind for the Philippines, after previous pacts with the US in 1998, Australia in 2007, Japan in 2024, and New Zealand in April 2025.

The Philippine Defense Secretary stated that increasing defense partnerships with other countries “serves to put to light the true intentions of China,” accusing Beijing of “expanding their power across the world” and urging it to “leave the West Philippine Sea — that’s 800 kilometers (497 miles) away from them.”

Over the weekend, he also met with defense ministers from the US, Australia, and Japan in Malaysia, expressing support for establishing the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Cooperation Council framework.

Tensions between China and the Philippines have risen in recent months over the resource-rich South China Sea, where China claims nearly the entire area as its own.

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