The Philippines and Vietnam have signed a new cooperation agreement to set up a hotline and improve coastguard coordination to maintain peace and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
Philippine President Marcos said maintaining peace, stability and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea remains non-negotiable. The two countries remain resolute in their commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes, he said, adding that this approach would be grounded in international law.
As part of the agreement, Manila and Hanoi also agreed to implement a hotline and improve coordination between their coastguards to prevent accidental clashes in disputed waters.
The move came just weeks before the 10th anniversary of the ruling by The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration that dismissed China’s expansive claims to most South China Sea features.
