The Chinese vessels Xisha and Zhongjian joined the Vietnam Coast Guard for a joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf on Monday, their second such operation this year.
This initiative continues a tradition of cooperation that dates back to 2006, making it the 28th joint patrol between the maritime law enforcement agencies of the two countries. The joint patrol serves as a model for maritime enforcement collaboration in the South China Sea, where both nations aim to enhance safety and stability in the Beibu Gulf.
During the joint patrol, both sides will conduct enforcement monitoring of fishing vessels, promote educational outreach to fishermen, and engage in discussions focused on combating maritime smuggling and other illegal activities. This will be the first time that specific efforts against smuggling have been included in their operational agenda.
"The operation will provide strong support for the maritime exchange between the Chinese and Vietnamese coast guards in law enforcement cooperation, as well as joint control of the waters off the Beibu Gulf to maintain the safety of local fishermen in the area," said Chinese coast guard Liao Zhengbiao.
"This joint patrol is a concrete measure for the Chinese and Vietnamese coast guards to deepen the cooperation in maritime law enforcement and jointly maintain the security and stability of the Beibu Gulf waters and the order of fishery production. We will strictly follow the predetermined program plan to carry out the joint boarding and inspection of fishing vessels in a professional and standardized manner and complete the task at a high standard," said Chinese coast guard Cheng Naiqin.
China, Vietnam coast guards conduct joint patrol in Beibu Gulf
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have reaffirmed that they will not seek normalization of ties with Israel, rejecting U.S. President Donald Trump's call for the two countries to join the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia's position on the Palestinian issue remains unchanged, a Saudi source told Al Arabiya TV on Monday.
The source affirmed the need for "an irreversible pathway to a Palestinian state".
The remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump urged Muslim-majority and regional countries to normalize relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords before the U.S. reaches a peace agreement with Iran.
Saudi Arabia has repeatedly said it would not normalize relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that Pakistan will not join any agreement to normalize ties with Israel, adding that the country will not accept any deal that "conflicts with its fundamental ideologies".
Trump on Monday urged Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and Pakistan -- countries involved in mediating U.S.-Iran talks -- to immediately join the Abraham Accords, warning that otherwise they should not participate in the mediation.
He added that if a U.S.-Iran deal is reached, Iran should also join the agreement.
The Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States in 2020 during Trump's first term, were established between the Israeli government and Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, aimed at rapidly advancing the normalization of relations between Israel and Arab countries.
Before the outbreak of the latest round of Israeli-Palestinian conflict in October 2023, the United States had been pushing for normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.
After the conflict erupted, Saudi Arabia suspended normalization talks with Israel.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan reject Trump's Abraham Accords demand
