The coast guards of the Philippines and Vietnam are holding joint exercises this week, Manila reported Monday, the first of its kind between the countries at odds with Beijing in the South China Sea.
Friends at sea: Philippine, Vietnamese coast guards hold first-ever joint exercise
China claims most of the strategic waterway, despite an international tribunal ruling that the claim has no legal basis. The Philippines, Vietnam and several other countries claim various islands, islets, reefs and shoals.
The 91-meter Vietnamese ship CSB 8002 will conduct maneuvers with a Philippine Coast Guard vessel near Manila Bay on Friday, at the end of a five-day visit, Philippine Coast Guard spokesman Armando Balilo said during an arrival ceremony for the visiting ship.
“This is important because it shows that two countries with issues in the West Philippine Sea can come to an agreement,” Balilo said, using the Filipino term for parts of the disputed South China Sea claimed by Manila.
