The first-ever cooperative training exercise between the two countries—which share a South China Sea dispute with Beijing—will see a Vietnamese coast guard vessel travel to the Philippines.
While the Philippines, Vietnam, and numerous other nations claim different islands, islets, reefs, and shoals in this strategically important waterway, Beijing claims almost the whole South China Sea.
President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines made an agreement to “peacefully resolve incidents at sea” and to strengthen coast guard cooperation in the South China Sea during his visit to Vietnam in January.
Vietnam’s defense ministry released a statement on Wednesday announcing that the 2,400-ton CSB 8002 ship had left Vietnamese seas for a journey of “profound political significance.”
By “promoting comprehensive cooperation and improving law enforcement capabilities at sea, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, security, and safety in the relevant sea area and the region,” the visit gives the coast guard forces a chance to do just that.
According to the statement, the two countries will practice together in search and rescue missions, fire prevention, and maritime firefighting.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry reported in mid-July that the nation has submitted a claim to the UN for an enlarged continental shelf in the South China Sea that extended beyond the existing 200 nautical miles.
A month earlier, the Philippines submitted anything comparable. China has conveyed strong protests to the Vietnamese leadership, stating that it will not accept Vietnam’s submission.
