Germany and the Philippines on Sunday said they are working on a defence cooperation agreement, to be signed later this year, that would expand training between their armed forces and armaments cooperation. The Philippines has been pushing to boost its external defences amid escalating tensions with China in the disputed South China Sea, and has been signing defence cooperation deals with other countries. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, who was visiting Manila, pledged to conclude the military policy agreement by the end of the year, and maybe as soon as October. Cooperation could occ…