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Vietnam Coast Guard arrives in Manila, set for joint drills with PCG

Article (news)

Michael Delizo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172284223253020240805070856_453985366_955920316573321_6444519445007307929_n.jpg" style="width:633px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(51, 51, 51);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:left;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Vietnam Coast Guard ship photo from the Philippine Coast Guard MANILA — The Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) vessel CSB 8002 arrived in Manila on Monday for a five-day port call, which will include joint maritime drills with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation amid disputes in the South China Sea.</div>Led by VCG Region 2 Vice Commander Col. Hoang Quoc Dat, the Vietnamese delegation consists of at least 80 crew members who will participate in search and rescue operations drills, fire and explosion prevention drills, and passing exercises with the PCG in Manila Bay this week.Commodore Arnaldo Lim, director of the Coast Guard Strategic Studies and International Affairs Center, said the arrival of Vietnam’s 2,400-ton vessel symbolizes the shared objectives of both nations in enhancing maritime safety and security.&quot;This cooperation is crucial for maintaining a safe, secure, and stable maritime environment and reinforces the strong bilateral ties connecting our two countries,” Lim said in his welcome address.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/1/30/marcos-jr-says-south-china-sea-code-of-conduct-with-vietnam-pretty-much-there-012">READ: Marcos Jr. says South China Sea code of conduct with Vietnam ‘pretty much there’</a></div>The Vietnamese official, for his part, said the activities serve as an opportunity to lay a solid foundation for continued collaboration.“This will promote and enhance the efficiency of information sharing and coordination in maritime law enforcement in accordance with international law, contributing to the preservation and protection of the region&#x27;s maritime security and safety,” he said.The Philippines and Vietnam both assert claims to various features in the Spratly Islands but confrontations between the two nations have been rare. Their bilateral relations have improved since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s state visit to Hanoi in January, during which both countries committed to enhancing cooperation between their coast guards.At the time, the PCG and VCG formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on maritime cooperation, aimed at strengthening mutual understanding, trust, and confidence.Under the MOU, the PCG and VCG agreed to establish a Joint Coast Guard Committee (JCGC) to address common issues and interests, as well as a hotline communication mechanism for swift coordination.PCG spokesperson Rear Admiral Armando Balilo described the VCG&#x27;s Monday visit to the Philippines as historic.“Ito&#x27;y first time na pagbisita ng Vietnam Coast Guard dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/15/filipino-vietnamese-navies-hold-talks-and-play-sports-in-spratlys-1736">READ: Filipino, Vietnamese navies hold talks and play sports in Spratlys</a></div>“Mahalaga ito pagkat we’re building partnership at pinapakita natin na puwede palang magkasundo ang dalawang bansa na merong problema sa West Philippine Sea. Puwedeng mag-template tayo ng pagbi-build ng stronger relationship at baka mai-apply din natin sa ibang mga bansang may claims sa atin.”(This is the first visit of the Vietnam Coast Guard to the Philippines. This is significant because we are building a partnership and demonstrating that two nations with ongoing disputes in the West Philippine Sea can indeed find common ground. This could serve as a template for building stronger relationships, which we might also apply with other countries that have claims in the region.)

The Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) vessel CSB 8002 arrived in Manila on Monday for a five-day port call, which will include joint maritime drills with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation amid disputes in the South China Sea.

The Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) vessel CSB 8002 arrived in Manila on Monday for a five-day port call, which will include joint maritime drills with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) as both nations agreed to strengthen cooperation amid disputes in the South China Sea.