South China Sea: Philippines and US sign pact to plug maritime intelligence gaps

The deal gives Manila access to capabilities like advanced satellite imagery that analysts say will help counter China’s grey-zone tactics

Reading Time:4 minutes

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro posing after signing the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, Metro Manila, on November 18. Photo: AFP / Philippine Department of National Defense

Published: 12:00pm, 19 Nov 2024

A newly signed intelligence-sharing agreement between the Philippines and the US aims to address long-standing gaps in Manila’s maritime awareness, with analysts suggesting it could recalibrate the balance of power in the South China Sea by countering Beijing’s assertive actions in the region.

The pact, known as the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), grants the Philippines access to advanced capabilities like satellite imagery and electronic intelligence. Observers say this will enhance situational awareness and enable a more coordinated response to China’s grey-zone tactics.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, on his final trip to the Indo-Pacific region under the Biden administration, signed the GSOMIA on Monday with Philippine Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jnr at Camp Aguinaldo, the headquarters of the Philippine military.

The agreement is expected to create new protocols for safeguarding top-secret military information and establish early detection systems for potential threats in the contested waters.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin poses with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr during a courtesy call at the Malacanang Palace in Manila on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Vincent Kyle Parada, a former defence analyst for the Philippine Navy, told This Week in Asia that the GSOMIA is a testament to the enduring partnership between the two nations.