MANILA: South Korea could take a step further in its growing defence ties with the Philippines and consider taking part in joint maritime patrols in the South China Sea and negotiating a possible visiting forces agreement, according to a Korean expert, adding his voice to growing calls for deeper security cooperation between the two countries.
Both countries are facing hostile neighbours. Chinese vessels have rammed and used water cannons on Philippine ships and flashed military-grade lasers at Philipppine troops on several occasions, while South Korea grapples with nuclear threats from North Korea, a key ally of China.
