According to Bloomberg, a senior official from the Philippines stated on Wednesday, August 28th, that the Philippines and Vietnam are likely to sign an agreement to enhance their security relationship during the visit of Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang to Manila on Friday.
Philippine Defense Minister Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said on Tuesday that Manila is looking to advance the relationship between the defense and military sectors of the two countries.
In recent years, Vietnam and the Philippines have been deepening their cooperation, including collaboration between their respective coast guards, as both countries have disputes with China in parts of the South China Sea. Recently, both Southeast Asian countries submitted documents to the United Nations claiming exclusive rights to resources in the disputed waters.
On August 9th, the coast guards of the Philippines and Vietnam held their first joint exercise in waters near Manila. The exercise aimed to enhance the collaborative capabilities of the two countries in areas such as humanitarian assistance and search and rescue, in response to their disputes with the Chinese government in the South China Sea. Armando Balilo, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, stated that the exercise demonstrated that “agreements can be reached by two nations in dispute over the West Philippine Sea.”
Despite China’s claim to the majority of this strategic waterway, an international tribunal has ruled that China’s claim has no legal basis. This area is an important channel for international trade, with billions of dollars in trade passing through it annually. The escalating tensions have heightened concerns about potential conflicts.