Philippines, Vietnam agree to cooperate in South China Sea amid a more assertive Beijing

MANILA - The Philippines and Vietnam on Jan 30 forged deals to bolster their maritime cooperation in the South China Sea, shoring up trust between the two nations as they continue to face a more assertive Beijing. The countries signed two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) during Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's two-day state visit to Hanoi. The first seeks to prevent untoward incidents in the South China Sea, with both sides agreeing to intensify efforts to "promote trust, confidence and understanding through dialogue and cooperative activities". The second MOU aims to improve cooperation between the two countries' coast guards, including…