‘Philippines, Vietnam negotiating partnership’

A new “strategic partnership” is being negotiated between the Philippines and Vietnam to fend off China’s maritime claims in the disputed South China Sea, Philippine President Benigno Aquino has said.

China’s moves in the South China Sea (SCS) are more alarming on Monday than a year ago, he said, amid fresh concerns over China building an airstrip in a reclaimed land in the islands in SCS, which are also claimed by the Philippines. “Perhaps it’s even worse today,” he said in an interview to the Hong Kong based South China Morning Post.

Aquino said it was never his intention to rile China by speaking up about the issue. “I can assure them that that is not a priority with me. I do not start a day (thinking) ‘how do I tweak the noses of these people?’...Put yourself in my position. I do have to protect my country’s interest and my countrymen’s rights. I’d like to view their actions as also doing the same thing,” he said.? 

He also said it made sense for the Philippines to pursue closer ties with countries with which it had common interests and goals, adding, “Vietnam is asking us for a strategic partnership.” 

“We are actually just defining what it is...We are working out the details,” Aquino said about the new emerging strategic partnership between Hanoi and Manila. China’s claims over all most all of SCS is hotly contested by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

Vietnam and the Philippines have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, as do China, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. “Anyway, when your strategic partner starts with the overlapping claims, there is more room to have a reasonable dialogue rather than reacting with the national interest, separate national interest,” he said.