The Philippines and Canada must work together to develop “democratic” supply chains for critical minerals and reduce dependence on China as tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.
This was according to experts and diplomats who spoke during a high-level conference organized by the Stratbase Institute and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada last Friday. The forum discussed how Ottawa and Manila could strengthen bilateral ties and cooperate to improve economic security amid an increasingly volatile geopolitical climate in the Indo-Pacific.
Vina Nadjibulla, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada vice president for research, identified critical minerals—which underpin high-tech industries and advanced defense systems—as a cornerstone of the two nations’ deepening partnership.
“This is the moment to deploy our critical minerals, both for our digital needs and our sustainability goals, as well as defense industrial actions,” Nadjibulla said.
She underscored the strategic need to build supply chains that are democratic and not dependent on China to navigate an increasingly “divided and dangerous” global landscape.
Stratbase Institute president Victor Andres Manhit reinforced this view, saying that “economic security is national security” and that the Philippines is moving toward a new tax regime on mining and a future mining fiscal framework for critical markets to facilitate strategic investments.
He said the Philippines’ geostrategic position and young workforce are ready to contribute to securing abundant critical materials.
Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo said Manila is eyeing a critical minerals pact with Ottawa similar to its bilateral agreement with the United States, which has been expanding its own critical minerals framework to secure supply chains and reduce reliance on China.
“We hope that with Canada, we can also have a critical minerals agreement given the prominence that we’re putting on critical minerals,” Rodolfo said, adding that the proposal was raised during the 2026 Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada Convention in Toronto earlier this month.
During the same convention, Rodolfo said the government stressed that mining and mineral processing will be the top priority among sectors being promoted.
As tensions rise in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, Rodolfo said such a deal could strengthen both Manila’s and Ottawa’s economic security as they manage complicated relationships with major powers such as the United States and China.
“I’m looking at an opportunity for both the Philippines and Canada to be part of the conversation on how we move forward and provide positive outcomes from all the geopolitics that is happening,” he added.
