August 10, 2024

The Philippines and Vietnam are reportedly set to hold their first joint maritime drills on Friday, a move that some Western media have interpreted as "historic" and aimed at China. However, experts argue that these reports overlook the fact that a Vietnamese vessel is currently on a friendly visit to China, and the drills between the Philippines and Vietnam are normal cooperation between sovereign nations and not directly related to maritime disputes.

Vietnam's 90-meter ship CSB 8002 arrived at the port of Manila on Monday for a five-day port call and is scheduled to carry out training exercises with the Philippines' 83-meter offshore patrol vessel, BRP Gabriela Silang, on Friday. Some media, including Nikkei Asia, reported the drills and claimed that this initiative aims to "counter" China in the South China Sea.

Ding Duo, a deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Law and Policy at the China Institute for South China Sea Studies, said the drills between the Philippines and Vietnam are normal cooperation, and some media outlets have over-interpreted them. These exercises reflect the two countries' willingness to strengthen security and military cooperation, and should not be directly linked to maritime disputes.

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