JP-PH "Formal" Naval Exercises and Cooperations

[Cossack25A1]

Japan, Philippines to Hold New South China Sea Naval Exercise

Tokyo and Manila are preparing for yet another joint maritime drill.

By Prashanth Parameswaran
June 10, 2015

Japan and the Philippines plan to hold a joint maritime drill later this month near the South China Sea, local media sources reported.

The exact details of the exercise have yet to be fully disclosed. According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the two countries will carry out exercises near the South China Sea later this month. Tomohisa Takei, chief of staff for Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF), said that Japan would announce further specifics like the schedule and the assets to be sent “as soon as the plan is fixed.” But NHK reported that Japanese defense sources had suggested Monday that the MSDF would dispatch a P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft to the drill, while the Philippine Navy (PN) would send a vessel and a plane to the sea.

On the Philippine side, navy spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo confirmed Tuesday that the exercise is part of a series of activities lined up for a country visit by the JMSDF from June 22 to June 26. While he did not say where the new exercises would be held or which ships will take part, he did reveal that the joint training will include humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime search and rescue, and maritime situational awareness training and cooperation. Arevalo also said that the engagement will help share new tactics, techniques, and procedures as well as best practices to further maritime operations. Staff-to-staff talks will also be conducted during the visit to strengthen information-sharing and step up maritime situational awareness.

The exercise will be the second between the Japanese and Philippine navies, since the two countries did carry out a drill last month as The Diplomat reported. But some reports have chosen to call the upcoming exercise the “first formal, full-fledged” exercise between the two countries, since the last drill was billed a ‘passing exercise’ to test the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) while two Japanese destroyers were on their way back to Japan following a four-day visit (See: “Japan, Philippines Hold First South China Sea Naval Exercises”).

The new drill to be held later this month comes shortly after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to Japan in the first week of June. During that visit, Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe both pledged to strengthen the security side of their strategic partnership through a range of measures including concluding an agreement on the transfer of defense equipment and technology and expanding bilateral and multilateral trainings and exercises (See: “Japan, Philippines Declare Strengthened Strategic Partnership”). The two countries have also agreed to open discussions on a visiting forces agreement that would allow Tokyo access to Philippine military bases (See: “Japan, Philippines Seeking New Pact on Military Bases”).

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Japan, Philippines to Hold New South China Sea Naval Exercise | The Diplomat
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[Huan]

Things like this will not discourage China. It will only embolden China's island buildup.

 

[Aepsilons]

Japan, Philippines to Hold New South China Sea Naval Exercise

Tokyo and Manila are preparing for yet another joint maritime drill.

By Prashanth Parameswaran
June 10, 2015

Japan and the Philippines plan to hold a joint maritime drill later this month near the South China Sea, local media sources reported.

The exact details of the exercise have yet to be fully disclosed. According to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, the two countries will carry out exercises near the South China Sea later this month. Tomohisa Takei, chief of staff for Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF), said that Japan would announce further specifics like the schedule and the assets to be sent “as soon as the plan is fixed.” But NHK reported that Japanese defense sources had suggested Monday that the MSDF would dispatch a P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft to the drill, while the Philippine Navy (PN) would send a vessel and a plane to the sea.

On the Philippine side, navy spokesman Colonel Edgard Arevalo confirmed Tuesday that the exercise is part of a series of activities lined up for a country visit by the JMSDF from June 22 to June 26. While he did not say where the new exercises would be held or which ships will take part, he did reveal that the joint training will include humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime search and rescue, and maritime situational awareness training and cooperation. Arevalo also said that the engagement will help share new tactics, techniques, and procedures as well as best practices to further maritime operations. Staff-to-staff talks will also be conducted during the visit to strengthen information-sharing and step up maritime situational awareness.

The exercise will be the second between the Japanese and Philippine navies, since the two countries did carry out a drill last month as The Diplomat reported. But some reports have chosen to call the upcoming exercise the “first formal, full-fledged” exercise between the two countries, since the last drill was billed a ‘passing exercise’ to test the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) while two Japanese destroyers were on their way back to Japan following a four-day visit (See: “Japan, Philippines Hold First South China Sea Naval Exercises”).

The new drill to be held later this month comes shortly after Philippine President Benigno Aquino III’s visit to Japan in the first week of June. During that visit, Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe both pledged to strengthen the security side of their strategic partnership through a range of measures including concluding an agreement on the transfer of defense equipment and technology and expanding bilateral and multilateral trainings and exercises (See: “Japan, Philippines Declare Strengthened Strategic Partnership”). The two countries have also agreed to open discussions on a visiting forces agreement that would allow Tokyo access to Philippine military bases (See: “Japan, Philippines Seeking New Pact on Military Bases”).

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Japan, Philippines to Hold New South China Sea Naval Exercise | The Diplomat
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This is an excellent opportunity for Japan to develop its formal relations with Asian partners in the region. The growing Japanese and Filipino Entente does not necessarily have to be translated as a strategy against China, rather, it is going to be a platform for both the Japanese and Filipinos to learn to work with each other and increase cooperation in security matters without having the United States as the link between relations as it had been in the past. Japan's cooperation with the Philippines will further stabilize the region because for one Japan has never been the type of country , in the modern sense, to encourage sweeping unilateralism , rather, policies have been testament to consideration of regional stability and inter-regional understanding. Besides working with the Philippines, Japan has also increased its participation in cooperating with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and to an extent even Thailand --- with the goal of cultivating a culture of mutual respect and cooperative reciprocity. An culture that tries to enhance communication and awareness , a culture of working and finding common ground. This extends to participation with China, as it has been observed in Japan's recent success in coordinating a Maritime & Aerial Crisis Network and Communication Channel for the JSDF and the PLA.

I believe that this is a good for the region, and ultimately , long term wise, will benefit also China, Japan and the rest of ASEAN as all relevant partners draft new policies in how to address each others' concerns. This builds maturity for all relevant partners.

What's your take on it guys? @TaiShang @Shotgunner51 @cnleio @Cossack25A1 @xesy @Viet @Sonyuke_Songpaisan @Chinese-Dragon @Yizhi @AndrewJin @Huan et al.

 

[Huan]

@Nihonjin1051 , I will say this simply: This exercise was to help entice a coalition of neighbors that will stand up to China and somehow reinforce the First and Second Island Chains against Chinese maritime expansion. But I doubt China will change its stance as always. It is futile.

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

Congrats Japan, on your new found colony

 

[greenwood]

Water gun ready.

 

[Aepsilons]

In a modest show of naval capability, the Philippines has been able to conduct naval exercises close to Palawan. Both their Navy and Coast Guard in coordination:

Water gun ready.

View attachment 228688

Wonderful looking ship! Tho I don't think the Philippines needs something that large. On that regard, Japan will be building 10 ships in the 40-45 m range for the Philippines. These will be enough to increase their interdiction capabilities throughout their vast archipelago of over 7,100 islands !

Coming to an island near you...lol

 

[greenwood]

12,000 tonnes coast guard, good at crashing.

In a modest show of naval capability, the Philippines has been able to conduct naval exercises close to Palawan. Both their Navy and Coast Guard in coordination:

Wonderful looking ship! Tho I don't think the Philippines needs something that large. On that regard, Japan will be building 10 ships in the 40-45 m range for the Philippines. These will be enough to increase their interdiction capabilities throughout their vast archipelago of over 7,100 islands !

Coming to an island near you...lol

 

[Shotgunner51]

@Nihonjin1051 Obviously I suppose China won't welcome any actions that escalates tension in the SCS, however neither would China be too concerned as minor tactical-level actions like this don't change the fundamentals in the gaming scenario if looking at the big picture. Just an hypothetical question, what if strategically Japan is an ally? The big game is not about JMSDF aligning with PH navy on a few shoals, but about the future of Sino-Japanese relationship.

 

[Aepsilons]

12,000 tonnes coast guard, good at crashing.

View attachment 228699

Such an impressive looking ship ! And at 12,000 tonnes, she outweighs Japanese Coast Guard's own Shikishima Class , which weighs at around 9,300 - 9,500 tonnes! Wow ! Hopefully we can see our ships patrol together --- in the name of peace and stability, eh?

Chouuusugoi!!

 

[Huan]

Such an impressive looking ship ! And at 12,000 tonnes, she outweighs Japanese Coast Guard's own Shikishima Class , which weighs at around 9,300 - 9,500 tonnes! Wow ! Hopefully we can see our ships patrol together --- in the name of peace and stability, eh?

Chouuusugoi!!

My god, it is like the size of a US destroyer. You Japanese love to build your ships big eh?

 

[JayMandan]

We welcome Japan and other friendly nations

 

[Viet]

This is an excellent opportunity for Japan to develop its formal relations with Asian partners in the region. The growing Japanese and Filipino Entente does not necessarily have to be translated as a strategy against China, rather, it is going to be a platform for both the Japanese and Filipinos to learn to work with each other and increase cooperation in security matters without having the United States as the link between relations as it had been in the past. Japan's cooperation with the Philippines will further stabilize the region because for one Japan has never been the type of country , in the modern sense, to encourage sweeping unilateralism , rather, policies have been testament to consideration of regional stability and inter-regional understanding. Besides working with the Philippines, Japan has also increased its participation in cooperating with Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and to an extent even Thailand --- with the goal of cultivating a culture of mutual respect and cooperative reciprocity. An culture that tries to enhance communication and awareness , a culture of working and finding common ground. This extends to participation with China, as it has been observed in Japan's recent success in coordinating a Maritime & Aerial Crisis Network and Communication Channel for the JSDF and the PLA.

I believe that this is a good for the region, and ultimately , long term wise, will benefit also China, Japan and the rest of ASEAN as all relevant partners draft new policies in how to address each others' concerns. This builds maturity for all relevant partners.

What's your take on it guys? @TaiShang @Shotgunner51 @cnleio @Cossack25A1 @xesy @Viet @Sonyuke_Songpaisan @Chinese-Dragon @Yizhi @AndrewJin @Huan et al.

don´t hesitate sending an invitation to the Viet Navy.

 

[大汉奸柳传志]

My god, it is like the size of a US destroyer. You Japanese love to build your ships big eh?

wait to see our 67000 tonnes surveillance ship with jets onboard，great at spotting fishing boats

 

[Aepsilons]

My god, it is like the size of a US destroyer. You Japanese love to build your ships big eh?

Yes, its actually larger than some nations' destroyers.

But i must admit, our Chinese peers are making headway themselves , and the new 12,000 tonne patrol ship is worthy of respect. This is why I don't think that Japan and China are necessarily competitors in regards to maritime patrol. Rather I would say both are collaborators for peace and stability in our shared region. I believe that the level of maturity and respect between the JCG/JMSDF and the CMA/PLAN is top notch , as I said before in another thread -- there is a level of honor code between the two. It is in my confident belief that Japan and China can collaborate with each other, work with each other in diffuse tension by building and encouraging a culture of deep bilateralism , as well as invest in framework of deep dialogue between all parties in the SCS.

For example, I honestly believe that the Japanese-Filipino relations will help diffuse tension. Why? Simple, because Japan and China already have a maritime & aerial mechanism , hence there is little to no conflict in the Sea of Japan , East Sea. Japan engaging with the Philippines can provide the framework wherein Japan can encourage the Philippines to build more vocal channels with the Chinese. Besides, the Japanese can teach our Filipino partners on the art of how to engage the Chinese positively so that can encourage reduction in misunderstanding and miscommunications.

Sure there are challenges for us in the region, but these challenges also opens doors to opportunities.