PH, Vietnam maintain commitment to peaceful resolutions in South China Sea

The Philippines and Vietnam maintained their commitment to ensure peaceful resolutions are in place in addressing tensions in the South China Sea, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

Marcos made the remark following the courtesy call of Vietnam's Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang this morning.

''We have elevated Philippines-Vietnam relations to greater heights with the visit of Vietnam's Defense Minister, General Phan Van Giang,'' Marcos said.

''We thank Vietnam for supporting the Arbitral Award. Together, we remain committed to peaceful resolutions, de-escalating tensions and ensuring that the rule of law and a rules-based international order prevail in our region,'' he added.

To recall, China has been claiming almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce. Its territorial claims overlap with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. The Philippines refers to parts of South China Sea as West Philippine Sea.

In 2016, an international arbitration tribunal in the Hague ruled that China's claims over the South China Sea had no legal basis, a decision Beijing does not recognize as it continues its atrocities in the region.

In January 2024, the Philippine and Vietnamese Coast Guards signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a joint Coast Guard committee and a hotline communication mechanism. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA Integrated News