The Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen coordination in dealing with maritime issues, particularly in working on a code of conduct in the South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday. READ MORE:
This as Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief General Andres Centino inspected the facilities at the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement site in Balabac, Palawan.
“The two countries expressed serious concern over unilateral activities that undermine peace and stability in the region. They committed to work together to protect their rights and legitimate interests under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea , and enhance confidence-building measures between relevant agencies,” the DFA also said.
US Ambassador MaryKay Carlson also said she was willing to meet with governors who have expressed concern about the opening of four additional sites that the US military would have access to under the EDCA. Carlson was asked to comment on China’s previous statement that the increased presence of the US in the Philippines through the EDCA sites affect regional stability.
Wong said Australia backs the Philippines in its fight for the West Philippine Sea, a part of the bigger South China Sea that China also claims. The Philippines’ right over the West Philippine Sea is based on the internationally recognized United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and 2016 Arbitral Ruling, Wong said.
“These are not our sites. We do not have any rights to these sites. It’s not as if somehow somebody snaps a finger and all of a sudden everything is open to the United States,” the US ambassador said. Manalo and Hayashi also talked about the Russian aggression against Ukraine and the nuclear and missile launches initiated by North Korea, the embassy statement added.
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