Sports diplomacy on display on disputed island
- 10 years ago
Philippine navy officials come ashore on a disputed island in the South China Sea -- and are warmly welcomed by their counterparts from the navy of Vietnam.
It was an unusal show of comity on a plot of land they both claim in an area that's been fraught with tension over many overlapping and competing claims from half-a-dozen countries
The get-together on Southwest Cay in the Spratlys Islands demonstrates the growing cooperation between Manila and Hanoi to counter China's increasing assertiveness in the region.
The two navies faced off on the sports fields for a day-long event. They each fielded teams for a volleyball match as well as a soccer showdown, and put on cultural shows.
Officials said their also shared information on maritime security, natural disaster warnings and search-and-rescue operations.
The Philippine officials said they would hold a similar event next year.
It was an unusal show of comity on a plot of land they both claim in an area that's been fraught with tension over many overlapping and competing claims from half-a-dozen countries
The get-together on Southwest Cay in the Spratlys Islands demonstrates the growing cooperation between Manila and Hanoi to counter China's increasing assertiveness in the region.
The two navies faced off on the sports fields for a day-long event. They each fielded teams for a volleyball match as well as a soccer showdown, and put on cultural shows.
Officials said their also shared information on maritime security, natural disaster warnings and search-and-rescue operations.
The Philippine officials said they would hold a similar event next year.