Manila, Hanoi to discuss common concerns over S China Sea issue
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte arrived on Wednesday in Vietnam for an overnight working visit, and experts said he and Vietnamese leaders will discuss common concerns on South China Sea issues and their stand when they meet with China.
"I will be in Vietnam to further strengthen our strategic partnership," Duterte said in his departure speech at the Manila international airport, the Xinhua News Agency reported. "I look forward to renewing friendly ties between the Philippines and Vietnam and reaffirm our commitment to work closer to achieve shared goals for our countries and peoples," he said.
The Philippines' strategic relations with Vietnam began with Duterte's predecessor, Benigno Aquino III, because they have common interests in gas or oil exploration in the South China Sea, and share security concerns over China's sovereign claims to the area, Xu Liping, an expert on Southeast Asia affairs at the National Institute of International Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.
According to Xinhua, Duterte said that both Southeast Asian countries "will seek to identify emerging areas of partnership particularly in the fields of maritime security and law enforcement."
Xu said "Vietnam is the second ASEAN state he is visiting, the first being Indonesia, the ASEAN leader, so this shows that as far as Duterte is concerned, Vietnam is the most important partner in ASEAN." In September, Duterte attended the ASEAN Summit in Laos.
Vietnam boasts of a powerful military force with a large population. Many great powers, such as the U.S. and Russia, are trying to expand their cooperation with the country.
"Vietnam also has cooperation on gas and oil exploration with Western companies, so the Philippines also wants to be part of the cooperation."
However, Xu stressed that "although under pressure from China, two states will stand together, but it doesn't mean there is no dispute between them," adding that Vietnam claims sovereignty over Nansha Islands, including some islands the Philippines claims.
Aside from the South China Sea issue, seeking anti-drug cooperation is also on Duterte's agenda, since he is being criticized by the U.S. and the UN, according to previous reports.
He said the Philippines and Vietnam shall also seek ways "to advance collaboration in the campaign against the illegal drugs trade, consistent with the goal of realizing an ASEAN drug-free community," Xinhua reported.
"We will work with Vietnam and the rest of ASEAN in suppressing the proliferation of illegal drugs for us to secure a better future for our next generation and the generations to come," Duterte said.
