Philippines and Vietnam Send Warning to China with Friendly Football Match in South China Sea

Soldiers from the Philippines and Vietnam sent a warning to China about its aggression in the South China Sea in an unusual manner, a game of football.

Reuters reports the friendly match took place on Northeast Cay in the Spratly Island formation, which is being contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, and Brunei. In addition to football, the troops sang karaoke together.

The island where the match was held is currently occupied by 100 Philippine troops. They were joined by 60 Vietnamese sailors who were brought to the island by a Vietnamese naval vessel.

The Philippines had formerly been at odds with Vietnam over control of the Spratlys. Now that China has built artificial islands in the archipelago, threatening both nation's claims, the two countries have begun a rapprochement. 

Vietnam is building its own islands in the contested territory, but not at the scale or speed of the Chinese.

Reuters notes that similar games and activities took place last year when Philippine troops visited the Vietnamese controlled island of Southwest Cay, just miles from Northwest Cay.

In addition to displays of allegiance like the football matches and karaoke, the two countries have also taken concrete steps to strengthen the relationship between both their navies by establishing a direct line of communication between them.

In addition to strengthening ties with Vietnam, the Philippines are also getting closer with Malaysia and Japan.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was recently in the Philippines and both countries agreed to form a strategic partnership, while Philippine President Benigno Aquino is set to travel to Tokyo for security talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. That visit will take place June 2-5.