Reporter: How do you assess the outcomes of this mission, especially the visit to China by Coast Guard Ship 8002?
Sr. Col. Doan Ngoc Triet: The joint patrol mission in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin for the second time in 2023 and the exchange with Division No.3 of the China Coast Guard concluded successfully, meeting the set objectives and requirements.
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Sr. Col. Doan Ngoc Triet and Vietnamese delegates on board Coast Guard Ship 8002. |
This was a “dual mission,” consisting of two phases. Phase 1 involved conducting the joint patrol mission with the China Coast Guard, while Phase 2 encompassed the exchange in Guangzhou, including activities such as welcoming Coast Guard Ship 8002 at the Changzhou Port, visiting vessels from both sides, hosting a reception on Coast Guard Ship 8002, engaging in sports competitions, joint training, experience sharing, and cultural exchange.
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Vietnam and China Coast Guard engage in sports exchanges during the visit to China by Coast Guard Ship 8002. |
Throughout the coordination of this mission, officers and soldiers of the Coast Guard Region 2 Command and Division No.3 of the China Coast Guard deeply grasped the political tasks entrusted by the leadership of both coast guard forces.
The joint patrol in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line of the Gulf of Tonkin and the exchange activities in Guangzhou held significant political importance, contributing to enhancing friendship, fostering reliable cooperation between the Vietnam Coast Guard and the China Coast Guard. It serves as an opportunity for officers and soldiers from both forces to interact, learn, and share experience in law enforcement, search and rescue at sea, and combating maritime crimes. Furthermore, it facilitates a deeper mutual understanding and solidarity between the two coast guard forces for better cooperation in the future.
Reporter: To carry out this mission, what specific preparations did the Coast Guard Region 2 Command make, sir?
Sr. Col. Doan Ngoc Triet: With the trust of the Minister of National Defense and the Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard, upon receiving the mission's notification until the issuance of Decision No.6089 on November 23, 2023, by the Ministry of National Defense, the leadership of the Coast Guard Region 2 Command organized comprehensive task implementation. We identified this as a significant political task in defense foreign relations. We assigned missions to the head delegate and executed a synchronized preparation such as establishing the delegation, building determination for officers and soldiers, and implementing additional training plans.
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Leadership from Division No.3 under the China Coast Guard bid farewell to the working delegation and Coast Guard Ship 8002 at Changzhou Port on December 8, 2023. |
Additionally, the delegation actively engaged in ensuring logistics, checking machinery and vessels, building general and specific plans, and anticipating potential situations during the mission execution. We regularly coordinated with the functional departments of the Coast Guard Command and relevant authorities of the Chinese side to ensure good preparation for the mission.
Reporter: Does the Coast Guard Region 2 Command have any plans to be ready for similar tasks in the near future, sir?
Sr. Col. Doan Ngoc Triet: In the forthcoming period, the Coast Guard Region 2 Command will continue enhancing all-rounded training, especially in executing defense foreign relations tasks, teaching foreign language, improving physical health and professional skills for officers and soldiers. This is to be well-prepared to engage in long voyages at sea and effectively fulfill the tasks assigned by the Minister of National Defense and the Coast Guard Commander.
Reporter: Thank you so much!
Translated by Trung Thanh