This year’s first joint patrol of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) and the China Coast Guard (CCG) in the vicinity of the countries’ demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin was wrapped up on April 29, VNA reported.

This three-day joint patrol spanned 255.5 nautical miles across 13 points. The route started from a point lying 48 nautical miles northeast of Con Co Island to another point 14 nautical miles southeast of Tran Island.

Vietnamese and Chinese border guards after the joint patrol. Photo: VNA

This is the 8th time such a joint patrol between the sides in the area has been organized since the nations’ fisheries cooperation agreement expired on June 30, 2020.

Vietnam and China each sent two vessels to join the patrol, along with representatives from the Vietnamese border guard, the Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of northern coastal provinces and cities, and the Hai Phong Customs Department.

Participating in this joint patrol, on the Vietnam Coast Guard side, there were CSB 8004 and CSB 8003 vessels, led by Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff Senior Colonel Luong Cao Khai of the Coast Guard Region 1 Command while the Chinese Coast Guard has 4302 and 4203 vessels.

The two countries' vessels performed a courtesy greeting ceremony at sea. Photo: Manh Thuong

During the joint patrol, the two coast guards conducted activities, including talks, telephone calls, inspection and supervision of the nations' fishing vessels operating in the adjacent waters of the demarcation line, and dissemination of relevant legal regulations for the two countries' fishermen.

Besides, the VCG established an interdisciplinary working group to directly inspect Vietnamese fishing vessels' compliance with the law, and implementation of recommendations of the European Commission (EC) on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as well as warning and strictly handling cases of IUU violations.

The China Coast Guard (CCG) Vessel 4302 and the Vietnam Coast Guard Vessel CSB 8004 conducted a joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin, from April 27 to 29, 2024. Photo: CCG

The VCG also distributed leaflets and gave gifts, and national flags to local fishermen.

Vietnam and China share a border of almost 1,450 km, including 1,065.6 km on land and 383.9 km over water. It traverses seven Vietnamese provinces – Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, and Quang Ninh - and China’s Yunnan province and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

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