Japan-US Military Exercises in the South China Sea
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.
