Vietnam and the Philippines agreed at the end of August to boost their defense links and deepen collaboration on maritime security.

The announcement came as Vietnam's Defense Minister Phan Van Giang visited Manila for talks with his Philippine counterpart, Gilberto Teodoro.

Both ministers inked "letters of intent" to enhance their maritime and disaster response engagements. They also agreed to resolve disagreements peacefully and within the framework of international law.

An official security agreement is expected to be signed by the end of the year.

The announcement comes amid high tensions between the Philippines and China over their territorial dispute in the South China Sea (SCS).

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But experts say Hanoi's decision to forge closer ties with Manila is, at this stage, mostly for show.

"I think the move is largely symbolic for now. I don't expect a significant breakthrough in defense cooperation between Vietnam and the Philippines, given their differing approaches to the South China Sea dispute," Nguyen Khac Giang, a visiting fellow at the Vietnam Studies Program at the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, told DW.

"However, in the long term, this could be important if ASEAN claimants seek to form a more united front in addressing China's maritime aggression," he said,........

© Deutsche Welle