Japan-US Military Exercises in the South China Sea
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The US and Japan are conducting joint military exercises in the South China Sea. A first-of-its-kind move.
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Japan-US Military Exercises in the South China Sea
The Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) of Japan and the United States Navy conducted their first cooperative anti-submarine training in the South China Sea on Nov. 16, according to the MSDF.
MSDF Chief of Staff Hiroshi Yamamura said at a news conference: "The ability to conduct an advanced (joint) drill in any areas of the sea shows a high level of interoperability between Japan and the United States," adding that "It also represents the deterrence and response capability of the MSDF and the U.S. Navy."
In a statement, the MSDF said in a statement released late Tuesday that the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise earlier in the day included one of Japan's largest warships, the Kaga helicopter carrier, as well as a destroyer and a patrol plane.
The USS Milius, an advanced guided-missile Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, and P-8A patrol aircraft from the US Navy also participated, in the first such joint drills in the South China Sea.
Russian-Chinese first joint exercise
Russia announced last month the implementation of the first joint naval patrol with China in the Sea of ​​Japan, as part of the joint exercises carried out by the two countries.
On the other hand, Japan monitored the naval maneuvers that were conducted, as it reported a week ago that a group of ten Chinese and Russian naval vessels passed through the Tsugaru Straits, which separates the main island of Japan and the northern island of Hokkaido.
