PH, Vietnam to sign maritime pact

THE Philippine and Vietnamese coast guards are due to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that seeks to enhance maritime cooperation between the two countries.

PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said the MOU is set to be signed during President Marcos Jr’s visit to Vietnam, scheduled from January 29 to 31.

“It’s coast guard to coast guard,” he said.

“The MOU aims to enhance the strategic partnership and cooperation between the PCG and VCG toward promoting, preserving, and protecting their mutual interest in the Southeast Asian region,” the PCG said in a statement.

Balilo said the agreement will cover “environment protection and search and rescue” and will lead to the establishment of a hotline which will improve coordination in responding to distressed fishermen.

He implied the agreement will be signed by PCG commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan, noting that the latter was asked to join the President’s visit.

The Philippines and Vietnam are claimants in the South China Sea, together with Brunei, Malaysia, and Taiwan. China claims almost the entire South China Sea and has refused to recognize a 2016 ruling of the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration rejecting its massive claim.

The MOU was discussed during the courtesy visit of Vietnam’s Standing Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Minh Vu, at the PCG headquarters in Manila yesterday.

PCG deputy command for administration Vice Adm. Allan Victor dela Vega welcomed Vu’s delegation, which included Vietnamese Ambassador Lai Thai Binh.

“During the meeting, the officials discussed the proposed memorandum of understanding which the PCG and the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) have worked on since 2018,” the PCG said in a statement.

“The MOU aims to enhance the strategic partnership and cooperation between the PCG and VCG toward promoting, preserving, and protecting their mutual interest in the Southeast Asian region,” it added.

During the meeting, PCG officials provided the Vietnamese delegation a “comprehensive briefing” on the PCG’s “current engagement and maritime security operations in the West Philippine Sea.”