A significant event with potential far-reaching positive implications for the South China Sea (SCS) has occurred, as President Marcos Jr. embarked on a state visit to Vietnam in January 2024. Prior to his visit, Marcos Jr. emphasized in a brief speech that the collaboration in maritime affairs stands as a crucial pillar in the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Vietnam. During his meeting with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong, Marcos Jr. reiterated that Vietnam holds the exclusive status of being the Philippines' sole strategic partner in Southeast Asia, a designation established in 2015. Additionally, Marcos Jr. highlighted the considerable expansion of relations between the two nations in recent years.
The discussions between the two parties encompassed various areas aimed at bolstering cooperation between the two nations. The visit included the formalization of numerous agreements to sustain elevated levels of communication, exchange of information, education and training initiatives, defense dialogues, and increased collaboration in the defense industry. The agreements also focused on joint efforts in search and rescue operations, maritime and aviation security, counter-terrorism measures, cybersecurity, and peacekeeping operations. Furthermore, both sides committed to enhancing cooperation in law enforcement to combat transnational crimes. The scope of collaboration extended to economic endeavors, fostering people-to-people connections, promoting tourism, and advancing cultural exchanges.
Two memoranda of understanding focused on security matters, specifically addressing "incident prevention in the South China Sea" and promoting "maritime cooperation" within coastguard operations. Both parties committed to reinforcing existing mechanisms for maritime cooperation, including the Deputy-Minister level Joint Commission on Maritime and Ocean Affairs, the hotline communication system between coast-guard authorities, and the implementation of additional measures to ensure the safety of fishermen from both nations. The primary objective of these agreements is to enhance collaboration among their coastguards and proactively prevent adverse incidents in the South China Sea. The maritime agreement aims to establish a comprehensive partnership between the coast guards of the two countries, encompassing capacity building, training initiatives, and exchanges of personnel and ships, all aimed at improving their collective ability to operate effectively together.
