HANOI/MANILA (Bloomberg): The Philippine Coast Guard said it is planning to send one of its ships to Vietnam later this year to boost maritime cooperation after the two countries held joint exercises this week amid sea disputes with China.
In a Facebook statement on Friday night, the PCG said it will reciprocate Vietnam for its "gesture of goodwill” in sending a Coast Guard ship to Manila for an inaugural port visit.
The two nations’ coast guards conducted maritime exercises on search-and-rescue operations, according to the statement.
Vietnam and the Philippines have been locked in disputes with China over parts of the South China Sea.
The two South-East Asian nations have recently submitted separate information to the United Nations, asserting exclusive rights to resources in the disputed sea.
In June, Vietnam offered to hold talks with the Philippines about overlapping maritime claims.
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