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Two German naval vessels, including the frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg, are currently sailing through the South China Sea en route to the Philippines. The ships departed from Incheon, South Korea, on Tuesday and are expected to pass through the Taiwan Strait before arriving in Manila. According to a spokesperson for the German Defense Ministry, the ships are scheduled to dock in Manila on September 16. While the ministry did not disclose the ships’ routes in advance for safety reasons, this navigation across the South China Sea marks a significant event. It is the first time German warships have traversed these waters since the destroyer Bayern’s deployment in the region from August 2021 to February 2022. Notably, during that mission, the Bayern sailed from South Korea to Singapore but avoided the Taiwan Strait due to its sensitive nature. A Historic Passage Should the German warships pass through the Taiwan Strait this time, it will be a rare occurrence. It has been 22 ...

Passengers at check-in counters in Noi Bai International Airport. Photo: VNA On February 15, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued Directive No. 06/CT-TTg, instructing the Ministry of Public Security to consider waiving visas for more countries based on the new situation and Vietnam’s relations with those countries. Vietnam already waives visas for travelers from 25 countries, including 13 entitled to unilateral exemption. These countries are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus. Since mid-August 2023, the country has been issuing e-visas to all foreign arrivals and extending the temporary residence period from 30 to 90 days, with unlimited entries and exits, according to Viet Nam News. The temporary residence period for foreigners entering the country under unilateral visa exemption has been increased to 45 days. Hoang Nhan Chinh, the head of the Secretariat of the Tourism Advisory B...