Vietnam and Philippines Conduct Joint Exercises

Hanoi announced that a Vietnamese coast guard ship is en route to Philippine waters to participate in joint naval exercises, marking the first exchange of its kind between the two nations, which are engaged in a dispute with Beijing over sovereignty in the South China Sea. Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, but the Philippines, Vietnam, and several other countries also assert rights over small islands and reefs in the vital strategic waterway. During a visit by Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos to Vietnam in January, an agreement was reached to enhance cooperation between the coast guards of both countries in the South China Sea and to find peaceful solutions to maritime incidents. The ship "CSB 8002" departed Vietnamese waters on Wednesday for a journey of "significant political importance," according to a statement from the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense. The statement noted that the two countries will conduct joint exercises in search and rescue operations, fire prevention, and firefighting at sea.