Philippines and Vietnam elevate relations and renew defense cooperation during To Lam’s Manila visit
The Facts
- The Philippines and Vietnam agreed on June 1 to elevate their ties to an enhanced strategic partnership during Vietnamese leader To Lam’s visit to Manila.
- Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and To Lam said the upgraded relationship would expand cooperation, including in political and defense areas.
- The two countries renewed their 2010 defense cooperation agreement during the visit.
- Philippine officials said the renewed defense arrangement is intended to strengthen maritime-security cooperation between the two countries.
- The Philippines and Vietnam publicly reaffirmed their shared interest in peace, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight, and a rules-based order in the South China Sea.
- The South China Sea issue is central to the visit because both the Philippines and Vietnam are claimant states in the disputed waters.
- To Lam’s trip was a state visit to the Philippines and was described as the first visit by Vietnam’s top party leader to the country.
- A planned meeting between To Lam and Philippine Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano was canceled, and reports said no reason was publicly provided.
How left and right are reading this
- Both agree
- Upgraded ties and a renewed defense pact are being used to deepen political and maritime-security cooperation while publicly tying that cooperation to peace, stability, freedom of navigation and overflight, and a rules-based order in the South China Sea.
- They split on
- Less a disagreement than a question of emphasis: using closer cooperation to reinforce rules and restraint in a volatile dispute, versus using it to show claimant states can share more of the security burden themselves.
Analytical frames for this storyTap to explore
Context
What does the upgraded partnership involve?
Marcos said the enhanced strategic partnership will be defined by broader cooperation, including stronger political and defense ties and closer links between the Filipino and Vietnamese people Investing.com,U.S. News & World R…. Philippine officials also described the framework as covering areas such as security, economics, technology and people-to-people exchanges GMA Network.
Why is the South China Sea a major part of this story?
The Philippines and Vietnam are both claimants in the South China Sea, and their leaders used the visit to reaffirm support for peace, stability, freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes under international law Inquirer.net,ThePrint,Japan Times.
What remains unclear after the visit?
One unresolved point is why a scheduled meeting between To Lam and Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano was canceled; multiple reports said the event was called off without a public explanation CDN Digital,Rappler,Philstar.com.
View all 70 sources
Wire services (14)
ReutersGlobal Banking & Finance ReviewPhilippines, Vietnam upgrade ties, say South China Sea peace...
Independent coverage (50)
thesun.myPhilippines and Vietnam boost security and maritime ties
Hurriyet Daily NewsPhilippines, Vietnam renew defense ties to boost maritime se...
GMA NetworkPH, Vietnam strengthen defense, economic ties under enhanced...
InquirerMarcos: PH 'premier destination' for Vietnamese investment
VietnamPlusParty General Secretary and State President To Lam concludes...
VietnamPlusVietnam-Philippines economic ties should reach new height: T...
thesun.myManila, Vietnam sign tourism deal to boost flights and trave...
Daily Tribune15 MOUs fuel Philippines-Vietnam growth
VietnamPlus☕ Afternoon briefing on June 1
The Diplomat MagazinePhilippines, Vietnam Upgrade Diplomatic Partnership Amid Mar...
VietNamNet NewsVietnam's top leader holds talks with Philippine President
Vietnam Investment Review - VIRVietnam and Philippines upgrade ties to Enhanced Strategic P...
NST OnlinePhilippines, Vietnam explore more direct flights, sign touri...
Yeni ŞafakPhilippines Vietnam enhanced strategic partnership
Manila BulletinPhilippines, Vietnam reaffirm support for 2016 South China S...
Free Malaysia TodayPhilippines, Vietnam renew defence ties to boost maritime se...
Inquirer.netWPS: Philippines, Vietnam renew defense ties to boost mariti...
VietnamPlusVietnam's top leader holds talks with Philippine President
VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from VietnamVietnam, Philippines upgrade bilateral ties to Enhanced Stra...
VietnamPlusVietnam, Philippines issue Joint Statement on Enhanced Strat...
South China Morning PostPhilippines and Vietnam close ranks on South China Sea as To...
CDN DigitalMore direct flights ahead: PH, Vietnam sign new tourism deal
VietnamPlusVietnam, Philippines upgrade bilateral ties to Enhanced Stra...
Daily TribunePhilippines, Vietnam upgrade ties to enhanced strategic part...
Daily TribunePhilippines, Vietnam elevate ties to comprehensive strategic...
Philstar.comVietnam calls off president's meeting with Cayetano at Senat...
PTV NewsPBBM hails historic PH visit of Vietnamese President To Lam;...
Sun.Star Network OnlinePH, Vietnam upgrade ties to enhanced strategic partnership
ThePrintPhilippines, Vietnam upgrade ties, say South China Sea peace...
Tuoi tre newsPhilippines welcomes Vietnam's top leader To Lam with 21-gun...
CDN DigitalMarcos announces enhanced Philippines-Vietnam strategic ties
GMA NetworkPH, Vietnam renew 2010 defense cooperation deal
Manila BulletinPhilippines, Vietnam sign four agreements
The Star Philippines, Vietnam elevate ties to enhanced strategic part...
InquirerMarcos announces upgraded PH-Vietnam strategic ties
CDN DigitalVietnam cancels President To Lam's meeting with Senator Caye...
VietnamPlusPhilippine President hosts official welcome ceremony for Vie...
InquirerVietnam calls off President To Lam's meeting with Cayetano
Manila BulletinPhilippines, Vietnam elevate ties to Enhanced Strategic Part...
GMA NetworkMarcos hosts Vietnam's To Lam for bilateral talks in Malacañ...
Bloomberg BusinessVietnam, Philippines Elevate Ties as They Navigate China Ten...
The Straits TimesPhilippines, Vietnam elevate ties to enhanced strategic part...
Tuoi tre newsBreakfast @ Tuoi Tre News -- June 1
vietnam.vnanet.vnVietnam, Philippines upgrade bilateral ties to Enhanced Stra...
InquirerVietnam's leader on state visit to boost PH ties
The Manila timesMarcos, Vietnam's president to hold bilateral meeting
Philstar.comVietnam president arrives in Manila
The Star Vietnam's top leader To Lam arrives in Manila for a state vi...
BusinessWorldVietnamese leader arrives in Manila
Daily TribuneVietnam's Tô Lâm arrives in Philippines for historic state v...
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