JABAR EKSPRES – Japan, the United States (US), Australia and the Philippines have conducted joint naval exercises in the South China Sea, according to Japan’s Defense Ministry on Friday (8/25), amid China’s continued efforts to obstruct Manila’s supply activities at military bases in the waters.
The four countries’ war drills were held on Thursday (8/24), following the incident of a Chinese coast guard ship firing water cannons at a Philippine chartered vessel near Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea earlier this month.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s largest destroyer, Izumo, and destroyer Samidare are participating in the drills, the ministry said. The two Japanese ships will be docked at Manila port from Friday to next Thursday.
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Izumo will become a de facto aircraft carrier after undergoing additional renovations scheduled to begin next year or 2025.
US Navy littoral combat ship Mobile, Australian amphibious assault ship Canberra, frigate Anzac and F-35A fighter jets, and Philippine Navy landing ship Dabao Del Sur are the other ships involved in the training.
Japan’s Defense Ministry said in a statement that the purpose of the training was to “strengthen collaboration toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” a Tokyo-promoted concept widely seen as an effort to counter Beijing’s rising influence in the region.
The joint exercise was originally scheduled for Wednesday as a trilateral exercise because Philippine forces planned not to participate in it, according to sources close to the matter.
The US Navy was expected to send an American amphibious assault ship, according to the source, but was replaced by Mobile.
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The Philippines, which is facing increased military pressure from China in the South China Sea, is considering joint maritime patrols with ships from Japan, the US and Australia, according to the source.
