Philippines, South Korea agree to deepen maritime cooperation

Manila: The Philippines and South Korea committed Monday to deepening maritime cooperation, their presidents said, in the face of China s assertion of...

Manila: The Philippines and South Korea committed Monday to deepening maritime cooperation, their presidents said, in the face of China's assertion of its claims over the South China Sea.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos met in Manila and agreed to closer ties between their coast guards.

Yoon said they will strengthen "tackling transnational crime, information sharing and conducting search and rescue missions."

"We shared a common understanding about the importance of peace, stability and safety in the South China Sea," Yoon told reporters after the bilateral meeting.

"Our two countries will continue to work together in order to establish a rules-based maritime order and for the freedom of navigation and overflight pursuant to the principles of international law in the South China Sea," he added.