Philippines, Vietnam to sign defense pact before end of 2024

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (right) receives Vietnam National Defense Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang (left), who paid a courtesy call in the Malacañan Palace on Friday, August 30, 2024. Behind them is Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. (PPA POOL / Noel B. Pabalate)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Vietnam are expected to sign a defense cooperation agreement soon, the Palace announced Friday.

According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), this development came after Vietnam Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang paid a cordial visit to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in Malacañang on Friday, August 30.

The PCO explained that “the agreements can help build the momentum for cooperation between the defense and military sectors of the two countries.”

“Phan’s visit to the Philippines will further enhance the ties between the two nations with the signing of the defense cooperation agreement between Manila and Hanoi,” Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said, according to the PCO statement.

READ: Marcos to Vietnam’s defense chief: We now have defense, security alliance

In a news conference at Camp Aguinaldo, however, Teodoro disclosed that the two countries aim to sign a defense cooperation memorandum before the end of this year.

Teodoro and Phan made the commitment during their meeting at the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in Quezon City on Friday.

“We undertake to sign a memorandum on defense cooperation within this year,” Manila’s defense chief noted.

Teodoro and Phan also signed a letter of intent (LOI) to address “increasingly complex challenges at sea,” according to Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong.

Andolong said the LOI “emphasizes the major role of navies in this regard.”

Manila and Hanoi maintain close diplomatic ties despite their coinciding claims in the maritime features of the South China Sea, parts of which are being referred as the West Philippine Sea and East Sea by the two nations, respectively.

Both countries experienced hostile actions from Beijing.

Marcos earlier said that Phan’s visit to the country is a “further impetus” to “increase the depth and the range” of the Philippines’ relationship with Vietnam.

“Whereas before comprised only of our diplomatic connection–we now talk about defense cooperation, security cooperation, maritime cooperation, and certainly, on the area of trade as well,” said Marcos in welcoming Phan to the Palace.

READ: Marcos grateful for Vietnam’s backing of 2016 arbitral award

The defense pact between Manila and Hanoi comes amid an ongoing dispute between claimant countries and China, which asserts ownership over nearly the entire South China Sea through its 10-dash (formerly nine-dash) line.

Although the Philippines secured an arbitral grant in July 2016, which invalidated China’s sweeping assertions over the vast body of water that overlaps the West Philippine Sea and the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, Beijing continued trespassing on Philippine waters and harassing Filipino ships and fisherfolk.

Apart from China and the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the South China Sea – a vital channel for international trade.

Earlier this month, Manila and Hanoi completed their initial joint maritime drills – the first time the Philippines held one with another claimant country.