The navies of China and Vietnam conducted a new edition of their joint naval patrols in the Beibu Gulf from 19 to 20 November, in line with existing bilateral agreements and the annual cooperation schedule. The operation, corresponding to the 39th patrol, once again stood out as one of the main mechanisms for maritime coordination between the two countries in a shared strategic area.
According to information reported by various media outlets and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), the People’s Liberation Army Navy took part with Task Group 989, composed of the frigate Guangyuan (649) and the Type 056A corvette Aba (630). On the Vietnamese side, two Petya-class frigates from the 17th Brigade reportedly participated, as noted by regional observers.
The naval units conducted coordinated sailing, tactical communication drills, identification procedures, controlled approaches, and maritime alert maneuvers, with the aim of strengthening interoperability and joint response capabilities. On 20 November in particular, warships from both sides carried out a joint search-and-rescue exercise, simulating a scenario in which a fishing vessel from each country was in distress in the Beibu Gulf.
Since their inception, these binational patrols have sought to enhance coordination during contingencies and to reinforce communication channels between the two navies. The 39th edition continued in this vein, incorporating exercises focused on detecting, tracking, and assessing surface contacts, along with basic anti-surface and anti-submarine training.
Finally, the Beibu Gulf is a maritime area of high strategic value for both China and Vietnam due to its proximity to major ports and its importance for maritime commerce and transit. Unlike other parts of the South China Sea marked by rising tensions, the gulf benefits from specific patrol agreements and joint mechanisms for incident management, which have helped consolidate a pattern of naval cooperation.
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