Richard Heydarian is a senior lecturer at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines and author of "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."
'Minilateral' cooperation is bringing together Philippines, Vietnam and Indonesia


Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., right, and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong at a welcome ceremony in Hanoi on Jan. 30. (VNA via AP)
Richard Heydarian is a senior lecturer at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines and author of "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."