Philippines, Japan militaries hold first joint exercises in South China Sea
MANILA听–听The听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别蝉听and听闯补辫补苍听held their听蹿颈谤蝉迟听箩辞颈苍迟听military听别虫别谤肠颈蝉别蝉听in the听厂辞耻迟丑听颁丑颈苍补听厂别补听on Friday, the Philippine armed forces said, in the latest collaboration between countries that have pushed back against听颁丑颈苍补‘s regional assertiveness.
The drills, which took place within the听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别蝉‘ exclusive economic zone, followed similar听别虫别谤肠颈蝉别蝉听between Manila and Washington on Wednesday.
“This activity was part of the ongoing efforts to strengthen regional and international cooperation towards realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific,” the Armed Forces of the听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别蝉听(AFP) said in a statement.
The听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别蝉听and听闯补辫补苍, both US allies, last month signed a 聽allowing deployment of forces on each other’s soil.
颁丑颈苍补听claims as its territory much of the听厂辞耻迟丑听颁丑颈苍补听Sea, a conduit for the bulk of northeast Asia’s trade with the rest of the world in which Brunei, Malaysia, the听笔丑颈濒颈辫辫颈苍别蝉, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
Japan, which announced last year its biggest military build-up since World War Two in a step away from post-war pacifism, does not have any claims to the busy waterway.
But it has a separate maritime dispute with聽颁丑颈苍补听in the East聽颁丑颈苍补听Sea, where the neighbors have repeatedly faced off.
The latest exercise, which included two vessels from each side, included a communications exercise, tactical maneuvering, and a photographic exercise, the AFP said. – Reuters
