RTAF – Air Attaché Office in Hanoi
DEFENSE NEWS BULLETIN 30.November.2022
1. CHINA, VIETNAM WRAP UP 33RD JOINT PATROL IN BEIBU GULF.
The 33rd joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf conducted by China and Vietnam wrapped up successfully on November 25. The joint patrol has played a positive role in maintaining security, stability and good order of maritime operations in the Beibu Gulf waters and promoting the healthy development of bilateral military relations.
(Chinese service members involved in the China-Vietnam joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf wave goodbye to their Vietnamese counterparts on November 25, 2022)
(The Chinese and Vietnamese ships cooperate closely in the joint patrol on November 24, 2022)
On November 24, the participating vessels from both sides set out in formation along the maritime boundary between the two countries in the Beibu Gulf. During the joint patrol, the vessels shared information on hydrological and meteorological conditions, marine and air conditions, and the heading and speed information, which further enhanced bilateral information sharing and maritime communication. During the patrol, China and Vietnam also conducted a joint search and rescue drill and a light and signal drill.
The joint patrol was the first one since the release of the China-Vietnam joint statement on further strengthening and deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Next, the two countries will continue to strengthen communication and carry out practical cooperation.
(By Ministry of National Defense of China)
2. VIETNAM ATTENDS INDO DEFENSE 2022 EXPO & FORUM.
A Vietnamese delegation led by Senior Colonel Le Quang Tuyen, Deputy Director of the General Department of Defense Industry, attended the opening of the Indo Defense 2022 Expo & Forum, the largest event of its kind in Southeast Asia, in Jakarta on November 2.
(The Vietnamese delegation at the event)
(Vietnamese head delegate presented with a souvenir)
The event gathered representatives of 905 companies from 60 countries worldwide.
Themed “Peace, prosperity, strong defense,” the expo is being held across three different venues in Jakarta, including Jiexpo Kemayoran in Central Jakarta, Pondok Dayung naval base in North Jakarta, and the south apron of the Halim Perdanakusuma airbase in East Jakarta. A total of 21 ministerial-level officials, armed forces commanders, and chiefs of staff from various countries attend the event.
The event will feature the sixth Indo Marine Expo & Forum and the seventh Indo Aerospace Expo & Forum co-hosted by the Indonesian Defense Ministry and PT Napindo Media Ashatama company. It is expected to draw about 30,000 visitors and 900 customers.
Tuyen said the Vietnamese delegation expects to learn about the latest defense technologies as well as preparations for events like the Vietnam Defense 2022 exhibition, scheduled for this December.
(By Vietnam People’s Army Newspaper)
3. VIETNAMESE DEFENSE MINISTER MEETS CAMBODIAN, CHINESE COUNTERPARTS IN CAMBODIA.
Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang met Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of ASEAN meetings in Cambodia on Monday.
Minister Giang is in Cambodia from Monday to Wednesday for the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) Retreat, the ninth ADMM Plus, and the ASEAN-U.S. and ASEAN-India defense ministers’ informal meetings, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
During their conversation, Minister Giang and Minister Tea Banh discussed a number of regional and global issues, and sought ways to further promote their countries’ partnership in the future.
They agreed to foster the cooperation between the two defense ministries, thus making contributions to the success of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year in 2022.
Giang congratulated the Ministry of National Defense of Cambodia for successfully hosting the ASEAN military-defense meetings for 2022, and expressed his belief that the ADMM Retreat and the ninth ADMM Plus will also be a success, making important contributions to maintaining the central role of the ASEAN.
He also invited Minister Tea Banh to visit Vietnam for the International Defense Expo that Vietnam will host for the first time in December.
(Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang shakes hands with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe in Cambodia, November 21, 2022)
(Vietnamese Minister of National Defense General Phan Van Giang (L) met Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh in Cambodia, November 21, 2022)
During his meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on the same day, Minister Giang congratulated China on the success of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
Wei affirmed that the defense partnership is one of the important factors in the friendship and cooperation between the two Parties and states, ensuring benefits for the two peoples as well as peace, stability, cooperation, and development in each country, the region, and the world.
The two ministers agreed that defense cooperation between the two countries has been maintained with flexible and effective forms despite COVID-19 impacts.
They underlined the need to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms, boost collaboration in political affairs, and enhance cooperation between the armed forces, academies, and schools.
The two ministers also agreed to deal with international issues related to the two countries with a strategic view to common interests and through peaceful measures in line with international law.
Giang affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of settling sea-related issues through peaceful measures in conformity with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.
He also stressed the significance of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Vietnam Sea (DOC) and the building of a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the maritime area.
The two ministers also concurred on fostering defense cooperation to realize collaboration contents reached by high-ranking leaders of the two sides during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit, thus boosting the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a healthy and stable manner.
(By Tuoi Tre News)
4. SINGAPORE AND VIETNAM REAFFIRM DEFENSE RELATIONS THROUGH DEFENSE POLICY DIALOGUE.
Vietnam Deputy Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General (SNR-LG) Hoang Xuan Chien co-chaired the 13th Singapore-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue (DPD) with Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chan Heng Kee at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this afternoon.
(Permanent Secretary (Defence) Chan Heng Kee co-chairing the 13th Singapore-Vietnam Defence Policy Dialogue with Vietnam Deputy Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General (SNR-LG) Hoang Xuan Chien at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) this afternoon)
(Mr Chan and SNR-LG Chien signing the second edition of the 3-Year Work Plan (3YWP) between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore and the Ministry of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam)
(SNR-LG Chien calling on Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How at MINDEF yesterday)
During the DPD, Mr Chan and SNR-LG Chien reaffirmed the warm and friendly bilateral defence relations as well their commitment to enhance bilateral defence cooperation between Singapore and Vietnam. Both sides also exchanged views on geopolitical developments and discussed how the two countries could work together to uphold the international rules-based order.
The cooperation between both defence establishments was underscored by the signing of the second edition of the 3-Year Work Plan (3YWP) between the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore and the Ministry of National Defence of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The 3YWP builds on the renewed Defence Cooperation Agreement, signed in February 2022, which laid the foundations for the strengthening of defence cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
SNG-LR Chien, who is in Singapore from 3 to 5 November 2022, also called on Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How at MINDEF yesterday, and visited the Information Fusion Centre at Changi Naval Base earlier today prior to the DPD. Both defence establishments interact regularly though high-level visits, professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and port calls.
(By Ministry of Defense of Singapore)
5. PHILIPPINES, VIETNAM MILITARY CHIEFS DISCUSS WAYS TO DEEPEN TIES.
A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) visited the Philippines on Monday, Nov. 7, to further enhance the military cooperation between the two countries.
(Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro (right), Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), shakes hands with Senior Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army and Vice Minister of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, during the latter’s visit at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Nov. 7, 2022)
Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), met the foreign delegation led by Senior Lt. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army and Vice Minister of National Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, at the AFP General Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Monday, Nov. 7.
“The meeting between the two military leaders emphasized the importance of defense cooperation in managing and promoting regional peace and stability,” Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of AFP public affairs office, said on Tuesday, Nov. 8.
Cuong also visited the Department of National Defense (DND) Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo where he was met by Defense Undersecretary Franco Nemesio Gacal, and the Philippine Navy (PN) Headquarters in Manila where he was welcomed by Commodore Jose Ma Ambrosio Ezpleta, PN Chief of Naval Staff.
According to the website of Hanoi-based People’s Army Newspaper (Bao Quan doi nhan dan), Cuong expressed sympathy to Gacal and the rest of the Filipinos after the massive destruction brought by the recent storm “Paeng.”
The Army newspaper also said that Cuong’s visit to the Philippines was significant “to enhance political trust, mutual understanding, and promote further cooperation between the two militaries.”
Meanwhile, Commander Benjo Negranza, PN spokesperson, said that Cuong reinforced Vietnam’s military cooperation with the PN, and talked to Ezpleta about “issues concerning [the] Philippine-Vietnam relations” where both officials emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of communication.
“This opportunity has helped strengthen the growing bilateral cooperation between the two nations’ armed forces,” Negranza said.
The Philippines and Vietnam has an active memorandum of understanding (MOU) on defense cooperation which was signed in 2010 and a 1999 Aide Memoire between its navies which enables military student exchanges, navy-to-navy interaction, and intelligence exchange between the two armed forces.
(By Manila Bulletin)
THE-END