The Philippines and Vietnam are eyeing more joint military activities after their leaders elevated ties to an enhanced strategic partnership in the face of Beijing’s assertiveness in the South China Sea.
Among the steps being considered to reinforce security ties are holding joint military drills, strengthening maritime cooperation and increasing readiness for natural disasters, Philippine Secretary of Defense Gilberto Teodoro said yesterday.
“Because of what is happening, and based on a more volatile environment, we have to accelerate and change the form of our defense cooperation. Our coordination with Vietnam is strong,” Teodoro said after a meeting in Manila with Vietnamese Minister of Defense Phan Van Giang.
Photo: AFP
Earlier in the day, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Vietnamese President To Lam upheld the importance of keeping the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea amid tensions in the strategic waterway where Beijing lays expansive claims.
“As fellow claimant states, we reaffirm that maintaining peace, stability and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea remains non-negotiable,” Marcos said at a joint briefing with Lam after their meeting in Manila.
The two nations also renewed their memorandum of agreement on defense cooperation, which Marcos said would bolster their joint capabilities in maritime security.
Lam said he discussed the regional and global situation with Marcos and agreed that they “need to coordinate more closely to respond more effectively to the changing circumstances of both countries for the sake of peace, stability and development.”
The Vietnamese president is wrapping up a Southeast Asia tour aimed at shoring up regional security alliances. Lam, seen as one of Vietnam’s most powerful figures in years, secured the presidency earlier this year after becoming general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 2024.
His trip comes as both countries grapple with an increasingly aggressive Chinese presence in the South China Sea, with the Philippines engaging in frequent confrontations with Chinese vessels and Vietnam navigating growing pressure around its offshore energy and maritime activities.
Hanoi has stepped up maritime patrols and security cooperation with regional partners in recent years, even as it maintains close economic ties with Beijing.
“There is no doubt that the Philippines and Vietnam share a common interest in maintaining peace, stability and a rules-based order in our region anchored firmly on international law,” Marcos said.
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