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By Adrian H. Halili, <\/b><\/span>Correspondent<\/i><\/p>\n THE PHILIPPINES is collaborating with the United States, Japan, and Australia in establishing an intergovernmental defense council amid worries regarding China\u2019s \u201cdestabilizing\u201d actions in the East and South China Sea, based on a unified statement from the defense ministers\u2019 gathering.<\/p>\n Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. convened with US Defense Secretary Peter Hegseth, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, and Japanese Minister of Defense Koizumi Shinjiro in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, where they reaffirmed their dedication to a free and accessible Indo-Pacific.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Ministers and Secretaries expressed their grave concerns about China\u2019s destabilizing actions in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and their firm opposition to any unilateral efforts to alter the status quo through force or coercion,\u201d the statement, released by the Philippine Defense department late Sunday, noted.<\/span><\/p>\n Referencing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the \u201clegally binding\u201d 2016 verdict by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that nullified China\u2019s extensive claims in the contested waterway, the Defense leaders reinforced their backing for ASEAN.<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Teodoro and his defense colleagues also discussed backing for a framework aimed at creating the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Cooperation Council to promote coordinated collaboration activities.<\/p>\n The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not promptly respond to a Viber message requesting comment.<\/p>\n Manila has become progressively proactive in establishing defense agreements with international partners to counter China\u2019s coercive actions in the crucial waterway, handling an estimated $3 trillion in yearly trade.<\/p>\n These include the Philippines\u2019 Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, which took effect in September, and the newly signed Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) between the Philippines and Canada, complementing its existing VFAs with Australia, New Zealand, and the US.<\/span><\/p>\n Besides agreements, the four nations also engage in joint drills, such as the upcoming Balikatan 2026, boosting operational readiness and deterrence in the area.<\/p>\n The proposed quad council may respond to Beijing\u2019s ongoing illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceitful tactics and unfair practices, stated Chester B. Cabalza, founding president of the think tank International Development and Security Cooperation.<\/p>\n Philippine vessels carrying out resupply missions have faced repeated harassment by Chinese ships in the disputed waters.<\/p>\n \u201cThe South China Sea will become the realm of coordination as Manila and Tokyo similarly confront maritime and territorial disputes with Beijing, while Australia and the US remain steadfast supporters of Japan and the Philippines to promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,\u201d he remarked in a Messenger chat.<\/p>\n He further stated that the agreement would also elevate the Philippines\u2019 defense posture to align with that of the US, Japan, and Australia.<\/p>\n Mr. Cabalza noted that the formation of a new defense council normalizes a novel type of defense network that upholds region-based order without compromising the freedom of navigation and overflight.<\/p>\n