Vietnam, PCG use water cannon in West Philippine Sea drills | INQToday

INQUIRER.net

9 Aug 202401:48

Summary

TLDRThe Philippine and Vietnamese Coast Guards conducted joint drills in the West Philippine Sea, utilizing water cannons for fire and explosion prevention, not for aggression as China has done. Security expert Chester Cabalza suggests these drills send a strong, non-aggressive message to Beijing. The exercises, including search and rescue, aim to foster trust and cooperation among claimant countries in the disputed South China Sea, despite overlapping claims and China's assertive actions.

Takeaways

🛑 The Philippine Coast Guard and Vietnam Coast Guard conducted joint drills using water cannons in the West Philippine Sea, which is a strategic move against China.
🔥 Water cannons are used by both nations primarily for fire and explosion prevention, rather than as a tool of aggression, unlike China's use against them.
🚢 The drills involved the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Gabriela Silang and Vietnam's CSB H0 002 near Corridor Island, showcasing their cooperation.
🔍 Both vessels also performed search and rescue and passing exercises, indicating a focus on maritime security and safety.
🗣️ Security expert Chester Cabalza suggests that these drills send a bold yet quiet message to Beijing about the importance of trust and cooperation in the disputed waterway.
🤝 Despite overlapping claims in the South China Sea, Manila and Hanoi maintain close diplomatic ties, emphasizing the value of mutual trust.
🏝️ The South China Sea, referred to as the West Philippine Sea by the Philippines and the East Sea by Vietnam, is a region with complex maritime disputes.
⛔ China asserts sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, despite an international ruling that dismissed its claims, leading to tensions with other claimant countries.
💥 China has used water cannons against the Philippines and Vietnam in the past, including to thwart a resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
🔫 Vietnam retaliated to China's use of water cannons with the same tactic, indicating a readiness to defend its maritime interests.
📚 The drills serve as a lesson for other claimant countries in the region, emphasizing the need for cooperation over coercion in maritime security.

Q & A

What action did the Philippine Coast Guard and their Vietnamese counterparts take during their drills in the West Philippine Sea?
-The Philippine Coast Guard and their Vietnamese counterparts employed water cannons during their drills, which serves for fire and explosion prevention purposes.
What is the significance of using water cannons in the drills according to the security expert Chester Cabalza?
-According to security expert Chester Cabalza, the use of water cannons in the drills sends a bold yet quieter message to Beijing, emphasizing trust, confidence, and cooperation over coercion in maritime security.
What specific vessels participated in the water cannon practice near Corridor Island?
-The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Gabriela Silang and the Vietnam Coast Guard vessel CSB H0 002 conducted the water cannon practice near Corridor Island.
Besides water cannon practice, what other exercises were conducted by the two coast guards in the area?
-In addition to the water cannon practice, both coast guards also conducted search and rescue and passing exercises in the area.
How does the script describe the relationship between Manila and Hanoi in the context of maritime disputes?
-Despite overlapping claims in the maritime features in the South China Sea, Manila and Hanoi maintain close diplomatic ties.
What has been China's response to the maritime operations of Manila and Hanoi, as mentioned in the script?
-China has used water cannons to derail the maritime operations of Manila and Hanoi, including thwarting Manila's resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.
What is the term used by the script to describe the South China Sea as referred to by the Philippines and Vietnam?
-The script refers to the South China Sea as the 'West Philippine Sea' by the Philippines and the 'East Sea' by Vietnam.
What is the significance of the term 'disputed Waterway' mentioned by Chester Cabalza in relation to the drills?
-The term 'disputed Waterway' signifies the contested areas in the South China Sea, and the drills serve as a lesson for various claimant countries to value cooperation over conflict.
How did Vietnam respond to China's use of water cannons against them?
-Vietnam retaliated by using the same tactic of water cannons against China.
What is the implication of the drills for the broader maritime security in the region, as suggested by the script?
-The implication of the drills is to promote a cooperative approach to complex maritime security challenges in the region, rather than relying on coercion.
What is the context of the International ruling mentioned in the script regarding China's claims in the South China Sea?
-The context is a landmark International ruling that effectively dismissed China's claims of sovereignty over the entire South China Sea.

Outlines

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🚢 Joint Maritime Drills: Philippines and Vietnam

The Philippine and Vietnamese Coast Guards conducted joint drills in the West Philippine Sea, utilizing water cannons for fire and explosion prevention. The exercise took place near Corridor Island and included search and rescue operations. Security expert Chester Cabalza suggests that these drills subtly communicate a strong message to China, who has previously used water cannons to disrupt maritime activities. The drills also serve as a lesson for other claimant countries in the disputed waterway, emphasizing the importance of trust, confidence, and cooperation over coercion in maintaining maritime security. Despite overlapping claims in the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam maintain close diplomatic ties. Both countries have faced hostile actions from China, which asserts sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, despite an international ruling against its claims.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Philippine Coast Guard

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is the maritime law enforcement agency of the Philippines responsible for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection. In the script, the PCG is mentioned as conducting drills with Vietnam's counterparts, signifying a cooperative stance in maritime operations and a message to other nations, particularly China.

💡Vietnam Coast Guard

The Vietnam Coast Guard is the maritime law enforcement agency of Vietnam, similar to the Philippine Coast Guard, and is involved in maritime security and safety. The script describes joint drills with the Philippine Coast Guard, highlighting a collaborative approach to maritime security in the region.

💡Water Cannons

Water cannons are high-pressure water jets used for various purposes, including firefighting and crowd control. In the context of the video, they are used during drills for fire and explosion prevention, but also symbolically as a countermeasure against China's assertive maritime actions.

💡Drills

Drills are practice exercises carried out by military or law enforcement agencies to train for various scenarios. The script mentions drills conducted by the Philippine and Vietnam Coast Guards, which serve to enhance their capabilities and send a message of preparedness and cooperation.

💡Corridor Island

Corridor Island is a specific geographical location mentioned in the script where the drills took place. It is significant as the site of the joint exercises, indicating a strategic area of focus for maritime security.

💡Search and Rescue

Search and rescue (SAR) operations are efforts to locate and rescue people in distress. The script notes that the Philippine and Vietnam Coast Guards conducted SAR exercises, demonstrating their commitment to humanitarian assistance in maritime areas.

💡Security Expert

A security expert, in this context, is an individual with specialized knowledge in the field of security, often providing analysis or commentary on security-related issues. Chester Cabalza, the security expert mentioned in the script, provides insight into the significance of the drills and their message to Beijing.

💡China

China is a major country involved in the South China Sea disputes, asserting sovereignty over the entire area despite international objections. The script discusses China's use of water cannons against the Philippines and Vietnam, indicating tensions and the assertive stance of China in the region.

💡Maritime Operations

Maritime operations refer to activities conducted at sea, including military maneuvers, law enforcement, and commercial shipping. The script describes how the Philippine and Vietnam Coast Guards' use of water cannons during drills contrasts with China's use of them to disrupt maritime operations.

💡South China Sea

The South China Sea is a contested region with overlapping territorial claims by several countries, including the Philippines and Vietnam. The script discusses the overlapping claims and the disputes, emphasizing the complexity of maritime security in the area.

💡Cooperation vs. Coercion

Cooperation refers to working together, while coercion implies forcing compliance. The script suggests that the joint drills between the Philippine and Vietnam Coast Guards are an example of cooperation, in contrast to China's coercive tactics, such as using water cannons to deter maritime activities.

Highlights

The Philippine Coast Guard and Vietnam counterparts use water cannons in drills as a strong message against China.

Unlike China, both nations use water cannons for fire and explosion prevention in maritime operations.

The drills took place near Corridor Island with the Philippine BRP Gabriela Silang and Vietnam's CSB H0 002.

In addition to water cannon practice, search and rescue and passing exercises were conducted.

Security expert Chester Cabalza interprets the drills as a bold, quiet message to Beijing.

The drills serve as a lesson for claimant countries in the disputed waterway, emphasizing trust and cooperation over coercion.

Manila and Hanoi maintain close diplomatic ties despite overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

China asserts sovereignty over the entire South China Sea, dismissing a landmark international ruling against its claims.

China has used water cannons against Manila's resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre.

Vietnam has also been targeted by China's water cannons, and retaliated with the same tactic.

The water cannon drills are a display of maritime security cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam.

Expert Cabalza suggests that the drills are a strategic move in the complex maritime security landscape of the region.

Both nations demonstrate their commitment to peaceful resolution of maritime disputes through joint drills.

The drills are a clear demonstration of the nations' capabilities in maritime operations and defense.

The use of water cannons in drills is a practical application of maritime safety protocols.

The maritime features in the South China Sea are referred to differently by Manila and Hanoi, reflecting territorial claims.

Despite China's aggressive actions, Manila and Hanoi continue to uphold diplomatic relations and maritime cooperation.

The joint drills are a testament to the resilience of the Philippines and Vietnam in the face of external pressures.

The maritime drills are a strategic communication tool, sending a clear message to Beijing and the international community.