Latest news with #maritimeexercise
The Independent
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Japan hosts coast guard drills with US and Philippines as sea tensions rise
Japan 's coast guard on Friday held a joint exercise with counterparts from the United States and the Philippines, as the three Pacific nations beef up defense cooperation in the face of China's expanding maritime activities. The exercise came after Japan confirmed that two Chinese aircraft carriers had operated together for the first time in the Pacific in June. Japan and China had blamed each other after Tokyo complained that a Chinese fighter jet from one of the carriers flew dangerously close to Japanese reconnaissance aircraft. Friday's coast guard exercise just off Japan's southern prefecture of Kagoshima involved 350 personnel from the three countries, and was based on a scenario of a collision between vessels at high seas, a fire and crew members falling overboard. The three nation's leaders last year agreed to bolster maritime cooperation, as they expressed concern over Beijing 's military maneuvers in the region. Their first joint drills were held in the Philippines in 2023. The coast guard cooperation is part of an effort to secure a 'free and open' Indo-Pacific by promoting mutual understanding and trust, Japan coast guard commander Adm. Yoshio Seguchi told a news conference Wednesday. China routinely sends coast guard vessels, warships and warplanes around disputed East China Sea islands, and recently as far as Guam, a U.S. Pacific territory with military bases. Beijing also sends coast guard vessels in the South China Sea, which it claims virtually in its entirety, clashing frequently with Philippine vessels.
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Japan hosts coast guard drills with US and Philippines as sea tensions rise
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's coast guard on Friday held a joint exercise with counterparts from the United States and the Philippines, as the three Pacific nations beef up defense cooperation in the face of China's expanding maritime activities. The exercise came after Japan confirmed that two Chinese aircraft carriers had operated together for the first time in the Pacific in June. Japan and China had blamed each other after Tokyo complained that a Chinese fighter jet from one of the carriers flew dangerously close to Japanese reconnaissance aircraft. Friday's coast guard exercise just off Japan's southern prefecture of Kagoshima involved 350 personnel from the three countries, and was based on a scenario of a collision between vessels at high seas, a fire and crew members falling overboard. The three nation's leaders last year agreed to bolster maritime cooperation, as they expressed concern over Beijing's military maneuvers in the region. Their first joint drills were held in the Philippines in 2023. The coast guard cooperation is part of an effort to secure a 'free and open' Indo-Pacific by promoting mutual understanding and trust, Japan coast guard commander Adm. Yoshio Seguchi told a news conference Wednesday. China routinely sends coast guard vessels, warships and warplanes around disputed East China Sea islands, and recently as far as Guam, a U.S. Pacific territory with military bases. Beijing also sends coast guard vessels in the South China Sea, which it claims virtually in its entirety, clashing frequently with Philippine vessels.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
Chinese military patrols South China Sea amidst Philippines-Japan joint drills
Manila: As the Philippines and Japan conducted a joint drill in South China Sea, the Chinese military held joint sea and air patrols in the disputed waters. China's People Liberation Army Southern Theater Command organized joint sea and air patrol in the South China Sea on Saturday, its spokesperson Colonel Tian Junli, stated on Sunday, emphasizing that any military activities that stir up trouble in the South China Sea and create hotspot issues are fully under control, Chinese media outlet Global Times said. In a statement released by the PLA Southern Theatre Command, cited by Global Times, Tian said that "the Philippines' act of rallying countries from outside the region to organise so-called joint patrols escalated security risks in the South China Sea and undermined regional peace and stability." The Armed Forces of the Philippines said on Sunday that Filipino military units and their counterparts from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted the second bilateral maritime cooperative exercise in the West Philippine Sea over the weekend. The West Philippine Sea is the portion of the South China Sea that is claimed by the Philippines as part of its maritime claims. In a media statement, Philippines Armed Forces spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the bilateral maritime exercise signifies a major step in defense cooperation under the newly ratified Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan. The June 14 maritime cooperative activity was held west of Zambales up to the west-northwest of Occidental Mindoro, within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone, Padilla said, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA). During the bilateral exercises, the Philippine Army deployed the newly commissioned guided missile frigate, BRP Miguel Malvar (FFG-06), and an AW-159 "Wildcat" anti-submarine helicopter. Also sent to participate were a Philippine Air Force C-208 intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, along with search-and-rescue units. Meanwhile, the Japanese deployed the guided missile destroyer JS Takanami (DDG-110) and an SH-60K "Seahawk" helicopter, showcasing joint maritime capabilities in various operational scenarios. The spokesperson for the Philippines Armed Forces said that two Chinese military vessels--Luyang III (DDG-161) and Jiangkai II (FFG-579)--were monitored during the Philippine-Japan maritime exercises. "There were no reported incidents or close encounters. Both forces maintained a professional and secure operating environment, reinforcing their abilities to coordinate effectively in dynamic maritime settings," Padilla was cited as saying by the PNA news outlet. She noted that the first bilateral exercise with Japan was conducted on August 2, 2024.
