In Hanoi, Abe says Japan will provide Vietnam patrol vessels
HANOI, Vietnam — Japan will provide Vietnam new patrol vessels, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Monday on the last stop of his four-nation tour to boost his country’s trade and security engagements in Asia amid China’s rising dominance.
“The two countries will further strengthen security and defenceco-operation and this time Japan has decided to provide (Vietnam with) newly built patrol vessels at Vietnam’s request,” Abe said at a news conference in Hanoi with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc. “We will strongly support Vietnam’s strengthening its maritime law-enforcement capabilities.”
Vietnam already has six used patrol vessels provided by Japan and how many were in the fresh offer wasn’t mentioned.
Both countries have maritime disputes with China — Vietnam in the South China Sea and Japan in the East China Sea.