During the Cold War, the USA was alarmed at the prospect of communism gaining new adherents via a domino effect. As Washington DC envisaged one Asian country after another toppling before the communist juggernaut, that was the raison d'etre for getting involved in the Vietnam War.
"During the dialogue, the two sides discussed the ways to enhance maritime cooperation in furthering a conducive environment for mutual growth and global well-being," the MEA stated in the release.
Incidentally, these drone interventions by China came within a week of the joint Coast Guard training exercises organised by Vietnam and the Philippines.
The exercise on Friday is the first such joint activity between the coast guards of the two countries amid ongoing territorial disputes with each other and, more significantly with China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea as its own.
In a move to strengthen maritime cooperation, the coast guards of the Philippines and Vietnam will conduct their first-ever joint exercises this August 9.
Two warships from the Philippines and Japan each, for the first time ever, conducted a joint exercise in the contested waters. Meanwhile, a Vietnamese Coast Guard vessel is on its way to the Philippines for a joint training exercise, in a first such exercise between the two countries.
Stressing the fact that the current geo-political realities call for closer cooperation between New Delhi and Hanoi; Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh agreed to further strengthen the Viet Nam - India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in all areas.
Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised the importance of the South China Sea during his state visit to India, and said that as much as 60 per cent of global trade passes through the region, which is why it is of utmost importance to have free and open waterway, the Ministry of Ext
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that he had productive talks with his Vietnam counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and the two countries have deepened cooperation in a range of areas including technology, security and connectivity
Highlighting the remarkable bilateral trade between India and Vietnam, Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary (East), Jaideep Mazumdar said that the bilateral trade is around USD 15 billion, adding that both nations' leaders feel that this could be "significantly increased".
Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary (East), Jaideep Mazumdar on Thursday emphasised that defence collaboration between India and Vietnam is a very important pillar, adding that both countries' leaders recognize that industry collaboration is a priority.