PH, Japan to hold naval drills June 22-26

THE Philippines and Japan will hold naval exercises later this month in a bid to boost security ties amid China’s expansion in the Asia Pacific.

“This navy-to-navy engagement envisions to share new tactics, techniques, and procedures as well as best practices to further maritime operations, especially now that the Philippines is nearing the rainy season,” said Navy spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo on Tuesday.

He said the Philippine and Japanese navies are exploring areas of training and cooperation–such as humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime search and rescue and maritime situational awareness.

He declined to say where the drills would be held.

A report from Japanese news agency NHK, quoting sources, said the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force will carry out disaster relief exercises in open seas, but the drill will not include surveillance activities.

However, the same report also said that Japan will send a P-3C anti submarine, a maritime surveillance aircraft.

“The plane is for search and rescue. We need them. We could exchange notes on best practices,” Arevalo said, but did not confirm whether it was the P-3C as the NHK report said.

The drills will be held on June 22 to 26.

The navies of Philippines and Japan also held drills last month near the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

The drills will be held several days after President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to Japan for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Both leaders have agreed to work on an agreement that will allow Japanese troops to visit the Philippines, and a possible expanded presence in the West Philippine Sea.

Claimants of the disputed seas have expressed concern on China’s massive reclamation activities.

“[The drills] are only incidental. There are other navies that visit us and it just so happen that we have these developments. This is just a customary visit, customary engagement,” Arevalo said. AC