China, Vietnam in joint patrols
Source: Agencies |
June 22, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
China and Vietnam have concluded two days of joint naval patrols, including a port call in China, despite a dispute over claims in the South China Sea, Vietnamese state media said yesterday.
Two boats from each country took part in the patrols on Sunday and Monday, sailing more than 300 nautical miles in the Beibu Gulf bordering China and Vietnam, the Vietnam's People's Army Newspaper said.
A demarcation treaty for the area was signed in 2000.
"Respecting the signed agreements is one of the factors that will promote the friendly and neighborly relations between two countries and ensure sustainable stability and security at sea," the newspaper quoted Colonel Nguyen Van Kiem, deputy chief of staff of Vietnam's navy, as saying.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei did not comment on the patrols at a regular news conference yesterday.
He reiterated China's sovereignty over the South China Sea, but said it would work toward a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute.
The patrols were the 11th since 2005 between the two countries, but it was unclear how long they had been planned.
Relations between the two plummeted in recent weeks as they traded diplomatic punches over run-ins involving territory in the South China Sea.
"The South China Sea has led to a souring of political relations but has not yet spilled over to affect the broad and deep nature of Sino-Vietnam relations," said Carlyle Thayer, a Vietnam expert at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra. "The holding of the exercises is a good sign."
Last week, Vietnam held live-fire naval drills off its central coast.
A newspaper published by China's Communist Party yesterday ran a editorial warning Vietnam to back off. "If Vietnam wishes to create a war in the South China Sea, China will resolutely keep them company," the Chinese language Global Times said. "China has the absolute might to crush the naval fleets sent from Vietnam."
China has been upset with Vietnam welcoming United States involvement in the South China Sea issues that Beijing believes should be settled bilaterally.
Two boats from each country took part in the patrols on Sunday and Monday, sailing more than 300 nautical miles in the Beibu Gulf bordering China and Vietnam, the Vietnam's People's Army Newspaper said.
A demarcation treaty for the area was signed in 2000.
"Respecting the signed agreements is one of the factors that will promote the friendly and neighborly relations between two countries and ensure sustainable stability and security at sea," the newspaper quoted Colonel Nguyen Van Kiem, deputy chief of staff of Vietnam's navy, as saying.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei did not comment on the patrols at a regular news conference yesterday.
He reiterated China's sovereignty over the South China Sea, but said it would work toward a peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute.
The patrols were the 11th since 2005 between the two countries, but it was unclear how long they had been planned.
Relations between the two plummeted in recent weeks as they traded diplomatic punches over run-ins involving territory in the South China Sea.
"The South China Sea has led to a souring of political relations but has not yet spilled over to affect the broad and deep nature of Sino-Vietnam relations," said Carlyle Thayer, a Vietnam expert at the Australian Defense Force Academy in Canberra. "The holding of the exercises is a good sign."
Last week, Vietnam held live-fire naval drills off its central coast.
A newspaper published by China's Communist Party yesterday ran a editorial warning Vietnam to back off. "If Vietnam wishes to create a war in the South China Sea, China will resolutely keep them company," the Chinese language Global Times said. "China has the absolute might to crush the naval fleets sent from Vietnam."
China has been upset with Vietnam welcoming United States involvement in the South China Sea issues that Beijing believes should be settled bilaterally.
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