The Philippines and Australia are preparing to sign a new defense pact next year, which will include more frequent joint military drills and support for developing defense infrastructure in the Philippines.

The Philippines and Australia are working towards a new defence agreement to be signed next year, their defence ministers said on Friday, as both nations seek to step up military cooperation to deal with shared security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia will augment the Philippines’ defense facilities as the two nations plan to enhance security cooperation amid Manila’s continuing tensions with Beijing in the South China Sea.