The coast guard forces of Việt Nam during the third joint patrol with Chinese coast guard on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HẢI PHÒNG — The coast guard forces of Việt Nam and China on Thursday conducted their third joint patrol in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin this year, covering the waters off Móng Cái City in Việt Nam’s northeastern province of Quảng Ninh, as well as Dongxing and Fangchenggang cities in China’s Guangxi province.

The joint patrol spanned a distance of 120 nautical miles, from Point 1 to Point 9 along the delimitation line in the Gulf of Tonkin.

This area is known for its bustling import-export activities and goods exchanges between the two nations, and is also a hotspot for illegal activities such as smuggling, commercial fraud, illegal border crossings, and unauthorised maritime entry.

During the patrol, the Việt Nam Coast Guard (VCG) actively disseminated information to dozens of fishing vessels operating in the border waters, urging compliance with regulations on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing to help lift the European Commission's "yellow card" warning on Việt Nam and promote sustainable development of the country’s fisheries sector.

Earlier, on the afternoon of August 28, the VCG released juvenile groupers into the waters to support marine resources development in the region.

Since 2024, joint patrols in the border waters have been conducted quarterly by the two nations’ coast guards to regularly maintain security and order and ensure legal compliance by their citizens.

This joint activity is a highlight in bilateral maritime law enforcement cooperation, contributing to preserving and developing the sides’ traditional and friendly neighbourliness. — VNS