You know, there’s something brewing in the South China Sea that’s a lot more intriguing than your average international fight. Imagine this—Vietnam and the Philippines, two countries with their own historical beefs, teaming up like some underdog superhero duo to face off against a much bigger, more menacing enemy: China. Yes, you heard that right. Vietnam and the Philippines just wrapped up their first-ever joint Coast Guard exercise, and the timing couldn’t be more perfect—or ominous—depending on how you see it.

The First-Ever Joint Coast Guard Exercise

Now, let’s not kid ourselves. Joint military exercises happen all the time. But this one? This is a big deal. Last week, the commanders of the Philippine Coast Guard welcomed the Vietnamese vessel with a big smile, and perhaps a little relief, because let’s face it—they both know who the real bad guy is here. The elephant—or should I say dragon—in the room is none other than the CPP What’s fascinating is that while Vietnam and the Philippines have their own territorial disputes, they have clearly decided that their bigger problem is China. Why? Because when it comes to uniting people against a common enemy, China is doing a better job than the aliens in Independence Day​!.

But Vietnam and the Philippines aren’t just playing defense. This exercise comes hot on the heels of the Philippines holding joint sea exercises with Japan and the United States. So it looks like everyone is circling the wagons against China. And if you think this is just posturing, think again. While these countries are showing off their muscles, China isn’t exactly sitting around knitting sweaters. No, they’ve been conducting their own military drills—right near Scarborough Shoal, thousands miles away from China, a place both the Philippines and China claim. Call it a coincidence if you like, but I’d say it’s more like a warning shot across the bow​.

Check out the latest news about South China Sea and what is Attorney Ken Duong’s thought about the situation