Philippines and Vietnam seal deals on South China Sea security and rice

HANOI — The Philippines and Vietnam agreed on Tuesday to boost cooperation among their coastguards and to prevent untoward incidents in the South China Sea, in an announcement during a state visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Philippines and China have competing claims over some parts of the South China Sea, a conduit for $3 trillion of annual ship-borne trade that China claims almost in its entirety. The agreement in Hanoi, details of which were not disclosed, could risk angering Beijing, which has deployed its vast fleet of coastguard throughout the South China Sea to police its expansive territorial claims. The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said a Memorandum of Understanding on Incident Prevention and Management in the South China Sea and a Memorandum on Maritime Cooperation have been inked between the two countries. The PCO said under the deal on incident prevention, the two nations agreed to enhance coordination regarding maritime issues ...