Hai Phong (VNA) – The Vietnam and China Coast Guard forces conducted their first joint patrol of 2025 in the northern waters of the Gulf of Tonkin on February 27.
Covering the sea area off Mong Cai city (Quang Ninh province, Vietnam), Dongxing city, and Fangchenggang city (Guangxi province, China), the joint patrol aimed to strengthen cooperation in combating crimes and law violations at sea.
The joint patrol, spanning from Point 1 to Point 9 along the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin, covered a distance of 120 nautical miles. This area has seen vibrant export-import activities and goods exchange between Vietnam and China, but it is also abused for smuggling, trade fraud, illegal transport of goods, and unauthorised border crossings by sea.
During the patrol, the Vietnam Coast Guard engaged with dozens of Vietnamese fishing vessels operating near the maritime boundary, requesting strict compliance with regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These efforts align with Vietnam’s push to prompt the European Commission (EC) to lift its yellow card warning against Vietnam's seafood exports and promote the sustainable growth of the fisheries sector.
This marks the 5th joint patrol since 2024, with both nations' coast guard forces conducting quarterly operations to maintain maritime security and legal compliance. It not only reinforces security at sea but also strengthens bilateral cooperation and deepens the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and China./.
