PH-Vietnam info exchange on terrorism, crimes eyed

NATIONAL Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año has proposed to Vietnam “information and intelligence exchange” to counter terrorism and transnational crimes.

Año made the proposal to Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam during a meeting last Monday, on the sidelines of President Marcos Jr’s state visit to Vietnam.

In a statement issued yesterday, the National Security Council said Año and Lam discussed several other issues during their meeting, including the territorial dispute at the West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.

Vietnam and the Philippines claim parts of the South China Sea, together with Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan. China claims almost the entire sea. The West Philippine Sea refers to parts of the South China Sea that are within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.

“On terrorism and transnational crimes, NSA Año proposed information and intelligence exchange as one of the areas where cooperation on counter-terrorism can be pursued, given that the threat of international and local terrorist groups remains a significant challenge to global security,” the NSC said.

It said Año raised, as an initial activity, the possibility of exchanging views on the anti-terrorism laws of the two countries.

He also mentioned “simulation exercises to determine the best practices in the application of legal measures vis-a-vis extra-territoriality and border issues.”

“On combating transnational crimes – such as people smuggling, human trafficking, robbery at sea, hijacking and kidnap for ransom, wildlife trafficking, firearms trafficking and smuggling of illicit goods – NSA Año said that the Philippines and Vietnam may pursue cooperation to strengthen border controls and security measures, including port security in strategic locations,” the statement added.

On the South China Sea issue, Año relayed to Lam his “optimism relative to the Philippines-Vietnam Memorandum of Understanding on Maritime Security” which was approved during Marcos’ visit to Vietnam.

CONFLICTS

The NSC said Año emphasized that the agreement “will enable both the Philippines and Vietnam to better manage conflicts in the SCS/WPS (South China Sea/West Philippine Sea).”

Año said the