The Department of National Defense (DND) and the Malaysian Ministry of Defense vowed to maintain a robust cooperation by upholding the implementation of a 27-year-old defense pact between Manila and Kuala Lumpur.
Defense Spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement Tuesday, April 13, that the DND and the Malaysian Ministry of Defense recently held the ninth Philippines-Malaysia Combined Committee on Defense Cooperation (CDCC) to reaffirm their commitment to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation signed in 1994.
Defense Undersecretary Cesar Yano co-chaired the virtual meeting with Malaysian Ministry of Defence Secretary General Sri Muez bin Abd Aziz last March 31.
Andolong disclosed that the two defense officials exchanged views on the recent developments in the South China Sea after China intensified its efforts to assert claims of the vast waters, including the West Philippine Sea (WPS) or the areas within the 220-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines.
"The two defense officials acknowledged the consistent enhancement of bilateral defense cooperation throughout the years with significant interactions and engagements between military officials and personnel," he noted.
The national government has repeatedly protested the presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels in the WPS which, according to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, could be a prelude to their illegal occupation and militarization of artificial islands, reefs, and other features.
Aside from this, Andolong said Yano and Aziz also shared best practices on the respective government's response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
Further, Andolong said Yano acknowledged Malaysia's "invaluable contribution" as Head of Mission of the International Monitoring Team (IMT), a joint collaboration which follows the continuing peace process in Mindanao.
Andolong added that Yano commended the efforts of the IMT in monitoring the implementation of the security, socio-economic development, humanitarian and civilian protection components of the peace process between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).