26/06/2017
Philippine and Vietnamese navies have been playing soccer, volleyball and tug-of-war games together on a South China Sea island, the latest get-together by two countries concerned by Chinese assertiveness in the disputed waters.
The two sides played in mixed teams on Thursday on Southwest Cay in the Spratly archipelago, the Philippine navy said, the third event of its kind since 2014 on an island held four decades ago by the Philippines, but now under Vietnamese control.
The games are among a series of exchanges between the two countries, quietly demonstrating their unity in the face of Beijing's expanding presence and signs of militarization of man-made islands in the Spratly chain.
Ariesh Climacosa of the Philippine Naval Forces West said the games showed how the two sides could get along and would trust and understand each other better.
Read more at ABS-CBN News
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