DHAKA: United States president Barack Obama said a 10-year defence pact that the Philippines and the United States signed yesterday is not meant to counter or contain a rising China.

‘Our goal is not to counter China, our goal is not to contain China. Our goal is to make sure international norms and rules are respected, and that includes the area of maritime disputes,’ he said at a joint news conference with Philippine president Benigno Aquino.

Officials from Washington and Manila signed the ‘enhanced defence cooperation agreement’ shortly before Obama arrived for a two-day visit.

The Philippines is the last stop of his four-nation Asia tour that included Japan, South Korea and Malaysia, reports The Straits Times.

The defence pact will allow the US to rotate more troops, combat aircraft and warships in the Philippines, similar to an arrangement it has with Australia, where it has up to 2,500 marines in the northern city of Darwin.

BDST: 1434 HRS, APR 29, 2014