Vietnamese and Filipino coast guards fire water cannon in maritime security exercises amid China threat

The Vietnamese and Philippine coast guards held joint maritime exercises, with both countries facing territorial threats from neighbouring China over the South China Sea.

Footage shows personnel firing water cannons as they simulated a fire combat drill off Manila Bay in the Philippines on August 9.

Vietnam Coast Guard vessel CSB 8002 had arrived in Manila on August 5 for the training.

The Vietnamese delegate has at least 80 crew members, and will participate in various activities such as search and rescue drills, fire and explosion simulations, and passing exercises with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

The Philippine Coast Guard said the bilateral drills were 'historic' and the first between Vietnam and the Philippines which have overlapping claims in the South China Sea.

Expansionist China currently lays claim over almost the entire South China Sea, one of the world's busiest sea lanes. But a United Nations-backed tribunal in 2016 deemed its claims groundless.

The Communist rogue state - accused of genocide for its crimes against the Uyghur population - has been steadily increasing its influence in recent years through investment in developing countries.