NAN-F-55
Agreement
Bangkok, March 21, 2017 (Reuters/NAN) Thailand’s junta leader and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte agreed on Tuesday to strengthen military ties and cooperate against cross-border criminality, including illegal drugs.
Duterte has faced criticism over the bloody nature of his campaign against drugs while Thailand’s junta is under pressure from the West to restore democracy nearly three years after it took power to end instability.
“On the security matters, Thailand and the Philippines are willing to work together in tightening the military ties of both countries.
“We are concerned about the challenges in addressing terrorism and all forms of transnational crimes,” Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said after their meeting.
Duterte also referred specifically to the campaign against illegal drugs.
No fewer than 8,000 people have died since he took office last year and began his own crackdown.
The Philippines chairs the 2017 regional meetings of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Duterte emphasised on the need for the bloc to complete the framework of a code of conduct to ensure all parties follow legal and diplomatic processes in settling territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Although the Philippines have moved closer to an accommodation with China over the contested waterway under Duterte, however, the friction remains.
A cabinet minister said that the Philippines have planned to file a strong protest against China after it announced preparatory work for an environmental monitoring station on a disputed shoal in the South China Sea.
China has put missiles and radar on manmade islands in another part of the South China Sea, in which Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam all have claims.
Thailand has no territorial claim in the South China Sea, but as one of Association of Southeast Asian Nation”s bigger members it is influential within the bloc. (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/sadiya hamza