Philippines and Vietnam Coast Guards to Hold First Joint Exercises in Manila Bay
On August 9, the coast guards of the Philippines and Vietnam will conduct their first-ever joint exercises to strengthen maritime cooperation and counter China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea. This region is contentious, with both nations claiming parts of it and having had confrontations with Beijing.
Vietnam’s 90-meter ship CSB 8002 arrived in Manila on Monday, marking the start of five days of training exercises with the Philippines’ 83-meter offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang. The drills will include search and rescue simulations and fire and explosion prevention training.
This collaboration follows an agreement between Manila and Beijing to de-escalate tensions in the South China Sea, particularly regarding Philippine resupply missions to Second Thomas Shoal. The timing of the exercises also coincides with a change in Hanoi’s leadership after the death of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the succession of Vietnamese President To Lam as party leader.
Experts view these drills as crucial for enhancing bilateral relations and regional security. Rear Admiral Armand Balilo, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson, emphasized the importance of building partnerships and showing the world that two countries with disputes in the West Philippine Sea can collaborate. Commodore Algier Ricafrente, PCG deputy chief of staff for international affairs, underlined the strategic importance of these joint exercises.
China’s recent regulation allowing its coast guard to detain foreign nationals crossing maritime lines set by Beijing adds urgency to these drills, which will take place in Manila Bay, facing the South China Sea. Julio Amador, CEO of Amador Research Services in Manila, explained that joint exercises between claimant countries are feasible only with ‘good faith.’ Don McLain Gill, an analyst and lecturer at De La Salle University in Manila, described these exercises as ‘important developments’ for bilateral relations and suggested that a unified position from Southeast Asian countries is essential for a significant pushback against Beijing’s expansionism.
Doubts Revealed
Philippines -: The Philippines is a country made up of many islands in Southeast Asia. It is located in the western Pacific Ocean.
Vietnam -: Vietnam is a country in Southeast Asia, known for its long coastline along the South China Sea.
Coast Guards -: Coast Guards are special groups of people who protect a country’s waters. They help with search and rescue missions and make sure the sea is safe.
Joint Exercises -: Joint exercises are training activities where two or more groups practice working together. In this case, the coast guards of the Philippines and Vietnam will practice together.
Manila Bay -: Manila Bay is a natural harbor in the Philippines, near the capital city, Manila. It is an important place for trade and travel.
Maritime Cooperation -: Maritime cooperation means working together on activities related to the sea, like safety and security.
South China Sea -: The South China Sea is a large sea in Southeast Asia. Many countries, including China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, have disputes over parts of it.
Search and Rescue Simulations -: Search and rescue simulations are practice activities where people pretend to look for and help those in trouble at sea.
Fire Prevention Training -: Fire prevention training teaches people how to stop fires from starting and how to put them out if they do.
Bilateral Relations -: Bilateral relations are the connections and interactions between two countries. Good bilateral relations mean the countries work well together.
Regional Security -: Regional security means keeping an area, like Southeast Asia, safe from threats and dangers.
