Philippines, Brunei sign deal on closer maritime cooperation, with eye on Beijing in South China Sea

The Philippines has signed a maritime cooperation deal with Brunei to boost “stability of the region”, but analysts say Bandar Seri Begawan’s ties with China could limit its commitment to working with Manila on countering Beijing’s influence in the South China Sea.

In his first official visit to Brunei on Tuesday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr signed a deal with the country’s monarch, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, that committed their two nations to mutually developing their maritime capabilities through joint skills training, as well as research and information sharing.

Aside from maritime cooperation, the two leaders forged deals on mutual recognition of education certificates and boosting tourism, as well as renewed memorandums of understanding (MOU) on food security and agricultural cooperation.

At the state banquet the sultanate hosted at Istana Nurul Iman, the Brunei leader’s official residence, Marcos Jnr emphasised the importance of continuing to work together on a bilateral basis, as well as other international coalitions, “for the peace and the stability of the region”.

“And not only for Asia, but for the Indo-Pacific as well. It is important that those partnerships now be brought back into the modern world. And I look forward for this state visit to once more give an added impetus and warmth and inspiration to the relationship between our two countries,” he said.

In response, the sultan, who has ruled Brunei for nearly 60 years, said his government was committed to “further strengthen” its ties with the Philippines to “protect and safeguard our common aspiration”.

Before Marcos Jnr left for Brunei, he told the media that he would look for “ways for further cooperation with Brunei in ensuring the defence of