Philippines, Vietnam to sign pact to deal with South China Sea row

MANILA: The Philippines and Vietnam are expected to sign an agreement on maritime cooperation during the visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to Hanoi next week, a move that is seen to build a united front between countries locked in territorial disputes with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime cooperation between the coast guards of the Philippines and Vietnam seeks “to strengthen understanding, mutual trust and confidence of cooperation... towards the promotion, preservation, and protection of their mutual interests in the South-East Asian region,” according to a copy of the final draft of the MoU seen by the Inquirer.