Philippines and Vietnam signed Agreement on South China Sea Cooperation On March 14, 2005, representatives of the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed the Tripartite Joint Marine Seismic Undertaking Agreement on the South China Sea in Manila. Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo met with delegates from three countries and spoke positively about the historical significance of the Convention. She said that it will open new vistas for exploration and exploitation of hydrocarbons in the South China Sea and that the Agreement is a manifestation of the political commitment of her government to promote cooperation among nations in the region. Ambassador Wu said that the Agreement was a significant step forward in the peaceful resolution of maritime issues in the South China Sea.  He added that it will provide an opportunity for Vietnam to explore hydrocarbons in areas that were previously considered as “Chinese territorial waters”. Philippine Foreign Se