Manila, Nov. 3 -- Canada and the Philippines, both staunch critics of China's increasingly coercive actions in the disputed South China Sea, signed a key defence agreement on Sunday to boost combat drills and expand security alliances to deter aggression, officials said. Canada and other Western nations have been bolstering their military presence in the Indo-Pacific to help promote the rule of law and expand trade. Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr signed the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with his Canadian counterpart, David McGuinty, after a closed-door meeting in Manila on Sunday. McGuinty said the agreement will boost joint military training, information-sharing and cooperation. Teodoro said the agreement will be key to fostering a rules-based order in the region....