8-8-2024 (HANOI) A Vietnamese naval vessel has sailed into Chinese waters for a five-day goodwill visit, even as tensions simmer in the hotly contested South China Sea. The guided-missile frigate 015 Tran Hung Dao of the Vietnam People’s Navy dropped anchor at a naval port in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province, on Wednesday, according to reports from the Chinese military’s Southern Theatre Command.
Zhanjiang, a strategic location housing the headquarters of the Southern Theatre Command Navy, oversees operations in the South China Sea – a region rife with territorial disputes between various nations, including China and Vietnam.
The visit, aimed at fostering “mutual understanding and trust”, will feature a packed schedule of activities. Both navies are set to engage in ship tours, deck receptions, cultural exchanges, and joint exercises, as stated by the Chinese military command.
This naval diplomacy unfolds against a backdrop of heightened military activity in the region. Coinciding with the Vietnamese frigate’s arrival, the Philippines launched a two-day naval and air exercise involving the United States, Canada, and Australia – a first of its kind. Simultaneously, Chinese forces conducted joint sea and air patrols around the disputed Scarborough Shoal.
The timing of Vietnam’s port call is particularly intriguing, given recent reports of Chinese military drones encroaching upon Vietnam’s coastline and exclusive economic zone. These incidents have raised eyebrows among regional observers, highlighting the delicate balance of power in the area.
Despite their historical tensions and ongoing maritime disputes, China and Vietnam have been making concerted efforts to improve military relations in recent years. Late June saw the conclusion of a two-day joint patrol exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin, involving two vessels from each nation engaged in coordinated activities and joint drills.
Vietnam’s approach to regional diplomacy has been characterised by some analysts as “bamboo diplomacy” – a careful balancing act between China and the United States. This strategy was further evidenced by a recent visit from Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara to Hanoi, where he announced Japan’s provision of two transport vehicles to Vietnam under a 2021 agreement.
