The Chinese navy launched its first joint patrol with a foreign
counterpart by sending a fleet of vessels Friday to patrol
Beibu?Gulf with Vietnamese naval ships, the Ministry of
National Defense has announced.
Initiated by an agreement signed last October between Cao Gangchuan, China's Defense Minister and
Pham Van Tra, Vietnam's Defense Minister, the patrols are aimed at
strengthening the cooperation between the two navies and
maintaining the stability of the fishing industry and oil
exploration in Beibu Gulf, the ministry reported.
Beibu Gulf, also referred to as the Gulf of Tonkin in the West,
lies between China and Vietnam. Shallow, less than 60 meters deep,
it is the northwestern arm of the South China Sea and a branch of
the Pacific Ocean.
The area boasts abundant natural resources including oil, gas
and various minerals. It also serves as an important fishing ground
for both countries.
(Shanghai Daily April 29, 2006)