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

Summary

The 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.