China’s military has begun live-fire exercises in the Gulf of Tonkin. This move comes shortly after Vietnam released a new map outlining its territorial claims in the area, which lies between the two countries.
Vietnam’s foreign ministry announced this baseline on Friday. The baseline is important for establishing the limits of territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. Vietnam stated that this action aims to protect and enforce its sovereign rights in the region.
The live-fire drills are taking place in the Beibu Gulf, which is closer to China’s side of the Gulf of Tonkin. These exercises are scheduled to continue until Thursday evening. So far, Vietnam has not publicly responded to these military activities by China.
This situation is part of a larger pattern of tensions in the South China Sea, where multiple nations, including China and Vietnam, have conflicting claims. In March of last year, China set its own baseline in the Gulf of Tonkin. Vietnam responded by emphasizing the need to respect international law and the rights of other countries.
The issue of maritime boundaries is sensitive in this region. The South China Sea is home to two significant island chains, the Spratlys and Paracels, as well as various reefs. China and Vietnam have a maritime agreement governing the Gulf of Tonkin, but disputes over islands and maritime areas continue to create friction.
China has been increasingly assertive in its claims, and there have been incidents, such as the assault on ten Vietnamese fishermen near the Paracel Islands in October. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, but it has not released specific coordinates for its claims, relying instead on a map with dashed lines.
The situation is further complicated by ongoing tensions with the Philippines. Recently, a Chinese navy helicopter flew alarmingly close to a Philippine patrol plane over the South China Sea, near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Both the Philippines and China claim this reef, highlighting the regional disputes that continue to simmer.
As the situation develops, the international community will be watching closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution to these ongoing maritime disputes.