Vietnam and China Coast Guard successfully conclude joint patrol

Coast Guard forces of Vietnam and China take souvenir photos on ship CSB 8004. Photo: Manh Thuong - VNA

This is the 8th joint patrol in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard after the Agreement on Fisheries Cooperation in the Common Fishing Zone of the Gulf of Tonkin between Vietnam and China expired on June 30, 2020.

Participating in this joint patrol, on the Vietnam Coast Guard side, there are the CSB 8004 and CSB 8003 fleets led by Colonel Luong Cao Khai, Deputy Commander - Chief of Staff of Coast Guard Region 1, as Commander of the Vietnam joint patrol force. On the China Coast Guard side, there are the 4302 and 4203 fleets led by Colonel Ngo Au Lam, Deputy Director of the South China Sea Sub-Department, as Commander of the China joint patrol force. The Vietnam Coast Guard delegation also includes representatives of the Border Guard, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the northern coastal provinces and cities, and the Hai Phong Customs Department.

The scope of this joint patrol spans 13 points with a distance of 255.5 nautical miles, from 48 nautical miles northeast of Con Co Island to 13 nautical miles southeast of Tran Island on the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin.

Colonel Luong Cao Khai led a delegation of the Vietnam Coast Guard to a Chinese Coast Guard ship to attend talks and summarize the joint patrol. Photo: Hoang Ngoc - VNA

During the implementation of the mission, the Coast Guard forces of the two countries conducted the following activities: held talks and exchanged phone calls; inspected and monitored fishing boats of the two countries exploiting seafood in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line; and propagated andeducated fishermen of the two countries to comply with the law when operating at sea.

During this patrol, the Vietnam Coast Guard established an interdisciplinary working group to directly inspect and grasp the situation of Vietnamese fishing vessels fishing in the area regarding compliance with legal regulations and recommendations of the European Commission (EC) on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) as well as reminding and strictly handling IUU violations. In addition, the Vietnam Coast Guard disseminated laws, distributed leaflets, gave gifts and national flags to local fishermen participating in fishing in the area, encouraging them to confidently go offshore.

On behalf of the Vietnamese joint patrol force, Colonel Luong Cao Khai emphasized that the joint patrol demonstrates the close cooperation between the maritime law enforcement forces of Vietnam and China in the Gulf of Tonkin, is a bright spot in maritime law enforcement cooperation in the region, and has great significance for the people of the two countries operating at sea. Thereby, contributing to fostering traditional friendship, together building the Gulf of Tonkin into a peaceful , stable and law-abiding sea.

Coast Guards of the two countries take a souvenir photo after the end of the talks on Coast Guard ship 4302. Photo: Manh Thuong - VNA

The first joint patrol in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin between Vietnam and China in 2024 was a great success, ensuring safety in all aspects. The two sides closely coordinated and well implemented the approved contents and plans.

The two heads of the joint patrol forces of the two countries hope that the two sides will continue to promote the results achieved in recent years to jointly maintain a peaceful, secure, orderly and safe environment at sea, contributing to fostering the tradition of friendship, solidarity, cooperation and development in the Gulf of Tonkin.

The success of this working trip will continue to create momentum to promote the relationship between the two Parties, two States and people of Vietnam and China in general, and the Coast Guard forces of the two countries in particular, to continue to develop better and better./.

Source link