March 4 ------ Naval forces from the Philippines and Japan carried out their second bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the West Philippine Sea on February 27. The announcement was made via a Facebook post by the BRP Jose Rizal (FF-150), the Philippine Navy’s first guided-missile frigate and flagship vessel.
The BRP Jose Rizal also participated in the inaugural MCA with Japan, which happened on August 2, 2023. “The Philippines and Japan successfully concluded their second bilateral maritime cooperative activity on 27 February 2024, in the WPS. The exercise aimed to enhance the two nations’ maritime security and promote closer cooperation and understanding in addressing regional challenges,” the BRP Jose Rizal said in its Facebook post.
The MCA involved personnel from the Filipino frigate and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers, JS Ariake (DD-109) and JS Hamagiri (DD-155), who arrived in the Philippines for a courtesy call last Feb. 24. The drills focused on “maneuvering exercises and photo exercises.”
Japan and the Philippines have agreed to deepen their defense cooperation in response to an increasingly challenging security environment in the Indo-Pacific region. Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro reached this agreement during a meeting in Manila on February 24. The discussions focused on regional security issues, including maritime disputes in the East and South China Seas. Nakatani emphasized the need for closer collaboration between the two nations, stating that stronger defense ties are essential to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
Both countries committed to enhancing military exchanges, establishing high-level strategic dialogues, and expanding information-sharing efforts. The partnership comes amid shared concerns over China’s assertive actions in disputed waters. In recent years, defense ties between the two U.S. allies have grown significantly. A landmark military pact signed in 2022 allows the deployment of Japanese and Philippine forces on each other’s territories. Japan has ongoing territorial disputes with China over the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands in Chinese), while the Philippines has clashed with China over shoals and atolls in the South China Sea that lie within its exclusive economic zone.
Nakatani’s visit included a tour of military bases in northern Philippines, including a naval station equipped with Japanese-donated coastal radar as part of Tokyo’s $4 million security assistance in 2023. The Philippines was among the first to benefit from Japan’s official security assistance program aimed at enhancing the deterrence capabilities of partner countries.
Source: manilastandard.net
Comments