Summary Chinese drones violated Vietnam's airspace, possibly to disrupt growing cooperation with the Philippines. Recent incidents highlight China's historical pattern of "divide and rule" tactics in the region. Long-standing tensions between Vietnam and China stem from historical invasions and disputes over maritime territories.
Chinese drones are reported to have violated Vietnam's airspace twice recently. According to the Voice of America (VOA), this is believed to be in response to growing cooperation between the two Southeast Asian countries and a recent joint Coast Guard training exercise. Through the Nine-Dash Line (called the "Cow's Tongue Line" in Vietnam), China lays claim to large maritime areas internationally recognized as part of the Philippines and Vietnam.
China is second in fighter jet production to the United States and is increasingly exerting control in the region. China violated Vietnamese airspace with recon drone The VOA quoted the Indonesian news outlet as saying, " The Chinese WZ-10 surveillance drone entered Vietnam's airspace twice in close succession, in response to joint exercises with the Philippines ." VOA also notes a professor (Vu Duc Khanh) at the University of Ottawa saying that China's tactic has long been to " divide and rule.
" Vu said, "Any cooperation is likely to affect China’s status as a regional power. Therefore, it will seek to disrupt it. " The first violation occurred on August 2, and the second happened last Wednesday.
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