Monday, February 17, 2025

OUR SEA NEIGHBORS: Vietnam, 2025



October 16, 2025: Vietnam again insists they own the Spratly Islands after the Philippines and China had a Vessel Collision near Pag-Asa Island
No less than the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Vietnam, Pham Thu Hang called on both the Philippines and China to recognize her Country's Ownership of the Spratly Islands after being asked to react to the recent Incident where Philippine and Chinese Vessels collided near Pag-Asa Island.

Vietnam calls the Spratly Islands Group as "Truong Sa" while they call Pag-Asa Island as "Thi Tu". Hang said that Vietnam has solid Historical and Legal Basis on its Ownership of the Spratlys Islands. 

MY THOUGHTS:
Another clear Example of how the Philippine Press and the Government ignores Vietnam’s Claims in the South China Sea (SCS) to APPEASE them. The Philippine Press doesn’t want the Filipino People to know how assertive Vietnam is towards their Claims in the SCS. 

But this is ignored by both the Philippine Press and Government because they don’t want to quarrel with Vietnam, only China because that’s what the United States (US) wants. The Philippines doesn’t want to argue over Territory with Vietnam, only China. 

This apparently is especially true for the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), who seem to just keep quiet when dealing with Vietnam whenever they have visits to or from the Vietnamese Military. On the other Hand, they don’t seem to do the same with China where it looks like they challenge them verbally every Chance they get. 

And that is how the US and Philippines manipulate the Relations Story of China and Vietnam, they keep quiet with Vietnam, but very noisy against China. And when China strikes back, they say China is “Aggressive”. 

But since they keep quiet against Vietnam, then there is nothing for Vietnam to react to or be aggressive about. Clear Manipulation and Propaganda.
SOURCES:

2025-08-10: China and Vietnam Armies conduct their first-ever Joint Training Exercises in China, Vietnam brought along their STV-380 Rifle
The Armies of China and Vietnam recently conducted their first ever Joint Training Exercise at the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in China. The Troops from both Countries initially showed to each other their Wheeled Vehicles, Light Arms, Reconnaissance Equipment, Drones, Protective Devices, etc. 

The Training will mainly cover Joint Patrol Exercises, and will cover four Main Aspects, which are Joint Reconnaissance, Joint Fire Strike, Joint Rescue and Joint Logistic Support. 

The Subjects covered will include Camouflaged Reconnaissance, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Reconnaissance, Live-Fire Shooting and Rescue of the Wounded. The two Sides will also conduct Exchanges, Visits and Cultural Activities. 

MY THOUGHTS:
Remember again that both China and Vietnam still have unresolved Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) like the Philippines, but those two Sides choose to remain close not only Economically but also Militarily instead of antagonizing each other.

Joint Military Training like this with China is now unimaginable under this Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) as he has basically mobilized his entire Government to speak out and antagonize China at every Opportunity they get. 

I also saw many Posts about this Exercise pointing out how Vietnam brought along their own home-made STV-380 Assault Rifle which is based on the AK Platform and is chambered in the 7.62 x 39 mm caliber. Yes, unlike us, the Vietnamese Army uses a Service Rifle something which are manufactured in their Country.
SOURCE:

July 2, 2025: Vietnam surpasses the Philippines in GNI per Capita as BBM misses his Target of Philippines achieving Upper Middle Income Status
The World Bank (WB) recently released a Report with some Data about the Economic Indicators of various Countries for last Year of 2024, and one of these Data showed that in Terms of the Gross National Income (GNI) per Capita (GNI/Capita), Vietnam has already surpassed the Philippines. 

GNI/Capita is the GNI of a Country divided by its Population Size, and is an Indicator of the Standard of Living in a Country. The higher the GNI/Capita, the better. In 2024, the Philippines' GNI/Capita was at Usd 4,470 while Vietnam was at Usd 4,490. 

The WB Report also showed that among the five Founding Countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), only the Philippines was left classified as a "Lower Middle Income Country (LMIC)". Three of the other Countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand have been classified as an "Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC)". 

The remaining Country Singapore has long been classified as a "High Income Country (HIC)". Note that in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) back in 2022, Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) said that he is targeting the Philippines to reach UMIC Status by 2024, but has failed to do so up to now.

MY THOUGHTS:
Imagine that, BBM continues to miss his own Target, the Target that he himself set back in 2022 of the Philippines reaching UMIC Status by 2024. We may finally hit that Target this Year of 2025, but that means a Delay of about a Year.

Note also that ASEAN was founded in 1967, 58 Years ago and yet the Philippines have still to reach UMIC Status while the other four Founding Members of the Organization have long since moved on to higher status. 

And finally, I have nothing else to say except that again, the only Catholic Country in ASEAN with a large Population continues to be a Laggard Country in ASEAN. And not only in ASEAN, but in the entire Asian Region as well. 
SOURCES:

May 5, 2025: Vietnam to leapfrog over Philippines and Singapore to be the third largest Economy in SEA in 2025, set to be the second by 2036
The "Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR)" Organization recently released a Report predicting that Vietnam will become the second largest Economy in Terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in South East Asia (SEA) by 2036, second only to Indonesia. 

A separate Report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicates that Vietnam will become the third largest Economy in SEA this Year of 2025 with a predicted GDP of Usd 571 billion. 

You can access the Article on the Website of the "The Nation" News Publication here: https://www.nationthailand.com/business/economy/40049589

MY THOUGHTS:
Note that just last Year of 2024, Vietnam was only fourth in Terms in GDP in SEA and the Philippines fifth while Singapore was third. So that means in just a single Year alone, Vietnam will leapfrog over the Philippines and Singapore to become the third largest Economy in SEA. 

Meanwhile, the Philippines only has a simple Ambition under this Administration of the ‘Bangag’, and that is to “fight China” and help protect Taiwan because that is what will make its Idol, the United States (US) happy. Such a Loyal and Obedient Dog ...
SOURCES:

May 4, 2025: Vietnam called on Philippines and China to respect its Ownership of the Sandy Cay Reef and stop Flag Planting Activities
The Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Vietnam, Pham Thu Hang said in a Press Conference that her Country has officially filed a Diplomatic Protest over the recent Flag Planting Activities of both the Philippines and China at the Sandy Cay Reef, which they call as "Da Hoai An". 

Quoting the Spokesperson herself: “The Position of Vietnam has been consistently and clearly affirmed, Vietnam has sufficient Legal Basis and Historical Evidence to assert Sovereignty over the Spratly Islands in accordance with International Law, including Sovereign Rights and Jurisdiction over Maritime Zones as defined under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).”

Hang emphasized that any Unauthorized Presence on these Features by other Parties constitutes a Violation of Vietnam’s Sovereignty, complicates the Regional Situation, and runs counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts to negotiate a Code of Conduct (COC) in the Region.

Vietnam is calling on the Philippines and China to respect its Sovereignty, refrain from Actions that escalate Tensions, and adhere to International Law. 

Here is the Link to the Article to the “Vietnam.net Global” Website: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/vietnam-lodges-protest-over-china-and-philippines-actions-in-spratlys-2397547.html

MY THOUGHTS:
What Vietnam is doing now is just a Reminder again that China is not our only Rival in Terms of Territories in the South China Sea (SCS), and that Vietnam is very much in it also. And yet we keep appeasing Vietnam and antagonizing China. 

The Excuse of the United States (US) and their Pinoy Dogs is that China is supposedly being “Aggressive”, and yet isn’t the Fact that Vietnam claiming Sandy Cay also being “Aggressive” already? And yet this Government of the Bangag still insists on deepening Military Ties with Vietnam, but not with China. 

That is because the US only wants the Philippines to fight China, but not Vietnam. So like Obedient and Loyal Dogs, we just follow what the US wants and tells us to do, especially under this Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM).

April 24, 2025: Vietnam announces start of Construction of their Usd 67 billion High-Speed, North-South Railway Line by December of 2026
The Government of Vietnam recently released a new Resolution that paves the Way for the start of the Construction of their new High Speed Railway by the end of next Year of 2026. Their "Ministry of Construction" will oversee the Process which includes completing the Comprehensive Feasibility Report by August of 2026. 

The selection of Contractors, along with the completion of all Land Clearances will then be made by November of 2026, just before the start of Construction. 

The new Railway Line will use High Speed Trains, be 1,541 km long and worth a staggering Usd 67 billion. It will connect the Northern and Southern Parts of their Country, and will run from Ngoc Hoi to Thu Thiem, passing through 20 different Localities. Expected completion of the entire Line is expected to be made by 2035. 


MY THOUGHTS: 
‘Di bale, me beinte Pesos per kilo na Bigas na naman daw tayo ngayon sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Bangag’, LOL (No worries, we now have twenty Pesos per Kilo Rice now under the Leadership of the ‘Bangag’, LOL). So again, Vietnam keeps moving forward, continuing to leave us behind in its Dust. 

Meanwhile instead of spending a lot more for Infrastructure Projects, the Government of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM) wants to buy two trillion Pesos worth of Arms instead to “fight China” ...

April 17, 2025: The Defense Ministers of China and Vietnam themselves recently led their 9th Border Defense Friendship Exchange Activity
The Defense Ministers of China and Vietnam recently participated in their latest Border Defense Exchange Activity. The Defense Minister of Vietnam General Phan Van Giang led a Delegation that met with another Delegation that was led by the Defense Minister of China, General Dong Jun at the Border Area of the two Countries. 

This was Part of the Activities for the "9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange", which included a Review of the Joint Patrol of the Navies of the two Countries, planting a "Friendship Tree" and also visiting a "Smart" Border Gate in China. 

The Exchange came just right after the Official State Visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Vietnam. 

MY NOTES:
Notice that the Defense Ministers of the two Countries are active Generals of their Armed Forces. We don’t do that because our Constitution insists that the Civilian Authority have control over our own Military. And look at the Pictures of the Meeting of the two Sides, just warm, genuine Smiles of Friendship all around. 

Note again that Vietnam and China have ongoing and unresolved Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) like us, but Vietnam doesn’t go over to antagonize China the same Way the Philippines does, likely because of the urging of the United States (US) for the Philippines to do so. 

This Kind of Exchange between Defense Ministers is right now unthinkable with the Philippines and China because Philippine Defense and Military Officials insists on going to the Press to make offensive Remarks at China, probably to distract the Filipino People at the current Failures of the Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM).


March 21, 2025: Vietnam and China conducted another Joint Patrol along their Land Border recently, which they have been doing since 2017
The "Lung Cu Border Guard Station" of Vietnam and the "Fu Ning Border Guard Unit" of China recently conducted a Joint Patrol along the Border of the two Countries in the Vietnamese Province of Ha Giang recently. 

The two Sides also inspected the Border Markers along the Way during the Patrol to ensure that they are intact and in good Condition. They later discussed Border Security and other Issues after the Patrol. The two Countries have been conducting such Patrols after an Agreement was signed for such an Activity back in 2017.

MY NOTES:
Again, China and Vietnam like us have unresolved Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea (SCS), but as we can see obviously they are in much better Relations with China than we are, such an Activity would be unthinkable now under this Anti-China, Pro-United States (US) Administration of Bong Bong Marcos (BBM). 

Even during the Administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte when he tried to establish better Military Relations with China, the Philippine Military covertly sabotaged the Operations and then bragged about it anonymously to the Press after Duterte’s Term. 
SOURCES: 

February 14, 2025: The China-Vietnam Friendship Movie “Border Sea” featuring Actors from both Countries premiered in China 
The China-Vietnam Friendship Movie called "Border Sea" starring Actors and Actresses from both Countries premiered in Theaters all over China recently. The Film tells the Story of a Chinese Man and a Vietnamese Woman who fell in Love in the City of Fangchenggang which is located along the Border of China and Vietnam. 

The Film reportedly took three Years to produce and shows an Authentic Portrayal of Life along the Border of the two Countries. China and Vietnam have strengthened their cooperation in recent Years in Films through Joint Projects, Actor Exchanges and Film Screenings. 

Activities like these show the close Alliance of both Countries despite their ongoing and still unsettled Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea (SCS). 

Here is the Link to the Article on the “ECNS” Website: https://www.ecns.cn/m/news/cns-wire/2025-02-14/detail-ihentfhp8761618.shtml

February 9, 2025: China-Vietnam Freight Train Trade grew by over seven times in January 2025
The "China Railway Nanning Bureau Group Company Limited" reported a large increase in Freight Transport between China and Vietnam last Month of January 2025 with a total of 3,062 TEUs, an increase of 760% compared to the same Period last Year of 2024. 

"TEU" means "Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit" which is a Shipping Container measuring twenty feet long and eight feet wide and eight feet high. Railway transport from Nanning, China to An Vien, Vietnam takes only 14 hours which is a big Advantage in Terms of Time and Cost. 

The Commodities transported were mostly Fiberboard, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Screens, Diesel Engines, Candies, Beverages, Seasonings, etc. 

Here is the Link to the Article on the “Vietnam Global” Website: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/chinavietnam-rail-freight-soars-in-january-2369829.html

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