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Bloomberg

The leaders of Vietnam and the Philippines upheld the importance of keeping the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea amid tensions in the strategic waterway where Beijing lays expansive claim.
“As fellow claimant states, we reaffirm that maintaining peace, stability and the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea remains non-negotiable,” Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said. He spoke at a joint briefing with visiting Vietnamese leader To Lam after their meeting in Manila on Monday.
Lam said he discussed the regional and global situation with Marcos and agreed that both nations “need to coordinate more closely to respond more effectively to the changing circumstances of both countries for the sake of peace, stability and development”.
Hanoi and Manila on Monday elevated their ties to an enhanced strategic partnership and renewed their memorandum of agreement on defence cooperation, which Marcos said would bolster their joint capabilities in maritime security.
There is no doubt that the Philippines and Vietnam share a common interest
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr
The Vietnamese president is wrapping up a Southeast Asia tour aimed at shoring up regional security alliances. Lam, seen as one of Vietnam’s most powerful figures in years, secured the presidency earlier this year after becoming general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam in 2024.
His trip comes as both countries grapple with an increasingly assertive Chinese presence in the South China Sea, with the Philippines facing frequent confrontations with Chinese vessels and Vietnam navigating growing pressure around its offshore energy and maritime activities.
Hanoi has stepped up maritime patrols and security cooperation with regional partners in recent years, even as it maintains close economic ties with Beijing.
“There is no doubt that the Philippines and Vietnam share a common interest in maintaining peace, stability and a rules-based order in our region anchored firmly on international law,” Marcos said.

Lam arrived in Manila on Sunday after giving the keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore where he told delegates that military power alone cannot ensure security, and called for the creation of mechanisms to actively prevent conflicts from spiralling.
The Vietnamese Communist Party chief also warned of the creation of a culture where “the big fish swallows the small fish”, as he laid out his vision of a regional order in a rare display of foreign policy prescriptions to an international audience of defence chiefs and diplomats.
Lam kicked off his regional trip with a stop in Thailand where the two nations agreed to deepen security and defence ties, as well as cooperation on technology sharing and green energy.


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The Philippines

Philippines, Vietnam close ranks on South China Sea as To Lam visits

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr (right) and Vietnam’s President To Lam shake hands at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Vietnam’s President To Lam gives a keynote address during the Shangri-la Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Friday, where he warned against “big fish swallows the small fish” culture. Photo: Reuters

Shangri-La Dialogue: Vietnam’s To Lam warns of 3 crises converging in Asia-Pacific security

Vietnamese President To Lam gives a keynote address during the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Vietnam’s President To Lam (centre) walks with Singapore’s Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing (centre right) during the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Friday. Photo: AFP

Vietnam, Philippines to deepen strategic ‘alignment’ on 50th anniversary of ties

Vietnam’s President To Lam is due in the Philippines for a two-day state visit on Sunday and Monday. Photo: AP

Vietnam’s President To Lam (left) and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul shake hands at Government House in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: AFP

Fishing boats near Vietnam’s offshore Ly Son island, which is the country’s closest island to the disputed Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asian leaders take a group photo at the 48th Asean summit in Cebu, Philippines on May 8. Photo: AP

Vietnam’s To Lam seeks to ‘re-energise’ Thai ties with trade, Ho Chi Minh’s legacy

Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (left) and Vietnam’s President To Lam review a guard of honour at Government House in Bangkok on Thursday. Photo: Reuters

Vietnam’s President To Lam visits the Ho Chi Minh memorial site in Udon Thani, Thailand. Photo: Facebook/thailandprd

Chinese President Xi Jinping (left) holds a welcome ceremony for his Vietnamese counterpart To Lam in Beijing last month. Photo: Xinhua

News

Asia

Southeast Asia

Diplomacy

The Vietnamese president is wrapping up a Southeast Asia tour aimed at shoring up regional security alliances


The Vietnamese president is wrapping up a Southeast Asia tour aimed at shoring up regional security alliances.


Vietnam

To Lam

Ferdinand Marcos Jnr

South China Sea

Philippines, Vietnam close ranks on South China Sea as To Lam visits

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Vietnamese president is wrapping up a Southeast Asia tour aimed at shoring up regional security alliances

The Vietnamese president is wrapping up a Southeast Asia tour aimed at shoring up regional security alliances