The Philippines and the United States signed a military intelligence-sharing deal on Monday, deepening defence ties between the two nations facing common security challenges in the region.

US and Philippine defence chiefs signed an agreement Monday on sharing classified military information and technology, as the long-time treaty allies deepen cooperation in a bid to counter Chinese influence in the region.

The Philippines and the United States signed on Monday a military intelligence-sharing deal, Manila’s defence ministry said, in a further deepening of security ties between the two defence treaty allies.