The Navy of the Philippines and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted their first bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) on Friday in the West Philippine Sea. The maritime exercise aimed to strengthen regional and international cooperation towards ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific amid China’s expansionist attempts in the area, according to a press statement released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The naval vessels deployed for the exercise included BRP Jose Rizal FF 150 from the AFP and JS Sazanami from the JMSDF. The training routine of the maritime exercise included a communications exercise (COMMEX), a tactical maneuvering exercise, and a photographic exercise (PHOTOEX).
The AFP’s press statement mentioned that the exercise enhanced the tactical capabilities of the Philippine Navy and the JMSDF, reinforcing their strong ties and mutual commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The statement further noted that the JMSDF and the Philippine Navy are dedicated to promoting security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating their shared commitment to upholding a rules-based international order.
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This initiative by the defense forces of Japan and the Philippines comes at a crucial time when China has repeatedly attempted to expand its territories in the Pacific Ocean. Taiwan is also facing similar expansionist issues from China. Recently, Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported detecting 66 Chinese military aircraft and vessels around the island, apparently en route to a Chinese military exercise in the Western Pacific.
The media outlet included a statement from Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense on its X platform: “66 PLA aircraft and seven PLAN vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (2200 GMT Wednesday) today.” The statement noted that 56 of the aircraft crossed the sensitive median line bisecting the Taiwan Strait—a narrow 180-kilometer (110-mile) waterway separating the island from China. These aircraft were headed toward the Western Pacific to join a joint air and sea military exercise alongside the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong, according to Taiwan’s defense ministry.
The ministry added that it had “monitored the situation and responded accordingly.” It also released an illustration showing that some of the aircraft came within 33 nautical miles (61 km) of Taiwan’s southern tip.
On July 10, the ministry reported that 36 Chinese military aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and were headed toward the Western Pacific to participate in a joint air and sea military exercise with the Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong. Previously, in May of this year, Beijing had sent 62 military aircraft and 27 naval vessels around Taiwan, amidst war games launched following the inauguration of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te. Taiwan’s Defense Minister Wellington Koo was cited by Focus Taiwan as saying that the MND had a “full grasp” of the Shandong’s movements.
(INPUTS FROM ANI)
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