PH, Vietnam navy personnel play ball games to ease tension in Spratlys

Philstar.com reports: "The Philippine and Vietnamese navies have agreed to let their sailors play football and basketball on disputed South China Sea islands to ease tension and build trust in a troubled region long feared as Asia’s next flashpoint for armed conflict."

The report quoted Philippine Navy chief Vice Admiral Alexander Pama, who said that the "fun games" were "part of a broader agreement he signed with his Vietnamese counterpart in October. " The report added: "Aside from the navy-to-navy accord, the two countries agreed to set up a hotline between their coast guards and maritime police to strengthen their capability to monitor "maritime incidents," such as piracy, and incursions into their territorial waters."

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