The Philippines and Vietnam yesterday agreed to advance defense and military relations, including deeper collaboration on maritime security, in a significant step by two countries long at odds with Beijing over its actions in the South China Sea.
Vietnamese Minister of Defense Phan Van Giang was in Manila for talks with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro, his first such visit, and paid a courtesy call earlier in the day to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“The ministers expressed their unwavering commitment to deepen defense and military cooperation through continued interaction and engagements at all levels,” the Philippine Department of National Defense said in a statement.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Giang said the two countries agreed to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and resolve disputes in line peacefully and in line with international law.
Their meeting comes at a time of simmering tension in the South China Sea and international concern about the possibility of an escalation, with China and US defense ally the Philippines sparring almost every week in a row that has raged for more than a year.
Vietnam has a tricky balancing act of opposing actions by China that it deems infringements on its sovereignty, while needing to maintain close relations with a giant neighbor and major trade partner, forged over decades by their ruling communist parties.
Teodoro said it was important that the ASEAN be central to ensuring peace and stability and freedom of navigation and aviation in the South China Sea.
“We talked about making more concrete and effective steps of working together and with our ASEAN partners, to ensure the continuity of these desires of all ASEAN peoples through concrete cooperation and interaction, underscoring the primacy of international law,” he said.
Despite their overlapping claims in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, where Vietnam and the Philippines each occupies atolls and reefs, both countries have expressed desire to work together and tackle disputes.
The two nations’ coast guards earlier this month held their first-ever joint exercises in Manila, simulating fire-fighting drills and search-and-rescue exercises.
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