China Coast Guard vessels Xisha and Zhongjian joined the Vietnam Coast Guard for a joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf on November 25, their second such operation this year. This initiative continues a tradition of cooperation that dates back to 2006, making it the 28th joint patrol between the maritime law enforcement agencies of the two countries. The patrol included monitoring of fishing vessels, educational outreach to fishermen and discussions focused on combating maritime smuggling and other illegal activities.