vietnam and philippines finalize agreements on security in south china sea
Published on: January 31, 2024.
Filed under:
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. embarked on a state visit to Hanoi, Vietnam, where he announced that the Philippines and Vietnam will enhance their coastguards’ collaboration to prevent accidents in the South China Sea. This move is crucial as the South China Sea is a major conduit for $3 trillion in ship-borne commerce each year and is largely claimed by China. Both the Philippines and Vietnam have rival claims to this region.
During a ceremonial ceremony in Vietnam’s presidential palace, Vietnamese officials revealed that two memoranda of understanding on security were signed, focusing on “incident prevention in the South China Sea” and “maritime cooperation” among coastguards. While the specific details of the agreements were not disclosed, it is important to note that this move might provoke Beijing, especially if it paves the way for further compromises on contentious claims in the future. China tends to view progress in border dispute resolutions involving other claimants with skepticism.
Past encounters with China’s coastguard have occurred in both Hanoi and Manila. However, in recent years, there have been multiple altercations involving Chinese and Philippine boats, further straining their already tense relationship. Against this backdrop, Marcos stated that Vietnam is the Philippines’ “sole strategic partner” in Southeast Asia, emphasizing their strong maritime cooperation. The Vietnamese Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, lauded Marcos’ visit as it contributed to the enhancement of bilateral relations amid the rapidly changing regional and global situations.
Additionally, apart from security and maritime cooperation, Vietnam and the Philippines sealed agreements concerning rice trade and agriculture cooperation. Vietnam is renowned as one of the world’s largest rice exporters, while the Philippines is a major importer of rice. This collaboration aims to further strengthen ties between the two nations in terms of rice trade and agricultural practices.
During his visit to Hanoi, Marcos is engaging with Vietnamese leaders, excluding Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong. Notably, this is Trong’s third consecutive absence from meetings with visiting leaders this month. However, Trong attended a parliament session in mid-January, allaying concerns about his health after not being included in official schedules for visits by leaders from Laos and Indonesia.
Before meeting with Vietnamese political leaders, Marcos had a meeting with Pham Nhat Vuong, the head of Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest conglomerate. Vingroup announced that its electric car unit, VinFast, will establish a business network in the Philippines. Marcos highlighted the Philippines’ potential in battery production for electric vehicles, thanks to its abundant reserves of cobalt, copper, and nickel.
Overall, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s state visit to Vietnam marks a significant development in the Philippines’ relationship with Vietnam, particularly in terms of security cooperation, maritime collaboration, and rice trade. This visit not only strengthens bilateral ties but also serves to boost regional stability and economic cooperation.
Source: Firstpost
