A Chinese naval vessel reportedly monitored the first bilateral maritime drills between the Philippine and Japanese navies in the South China Sea, held on August 2, 2024. The drills came amid heightened disputes over territorial claims between China and the Philippines.
On August 2, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced that the Philippine Navy (PN) and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) conducted their inaugural Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in these disputed waters.
The AFP highlighted that this activity is part of ongoing efforts to bolster regional and international cooperation and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Philippine Navy deployed the BRP Jose Rizal, while the JS Sazanami represented the JMSDF.
The exercises included a communications exercise (COMMEX), tactical maneuvering, and a photographic exercise (PHOTOEX), all of which aimed to enhance tactical capabilities and reinforce the strong ties and mutual commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The Philippines said that the collaborative exercise demonstrated the dedication of both the JMSDF and the PN to promoting security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, showcasing their shared commitment to upholding a rules-based international order.
Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuya Endo, expressed his support on social media platform X, welcoming the first Bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity.
He noted that JS Sazanami’s participation underscores Japan’s commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” (FOIP).
However, photos released by the Philippines and Japan revealed that a Chinese Navy ship was lurking behind the Philippine and Japanese vessels.
Defense writer Aaron-Matthew Lariosa pointed out the presence of a shadowing vessel during the exercise, suggesting that it could be a 056-class corvette based on its silhouette.
It appears that there was a shadowing vessel during the first 🇵🇭🇯🇵 bilateral maritime cooperative activity in the South China Sea. The silhouette of the vessel isn’t clear enough to identify, but it could be a 056-class corvette. https://t.co/zGF1bKpeOJ pic.twitter.com/ZBGtvK5X5p
— Aaron-Matthew Lariosa (@Aaron_MatthewIL) August 2, 2024
Similarly, maritime defense expert Collin Koh observed the possibility of the unidentified vessel being a Type-056 Jiangdao-class ship, reinforcing the suspicions of Chinese monitoring during the bilateral maritime cooperative activity.
Growing Joint Naval Operations In South China Sea
The latest joint naval exercise between the Philippines and Japan in the South China Sea followed closely on the heels of a bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) between the Philippine Navy (PN) and the United States Navy (USN) on July 31.
This coordinated effort brought together the USS Mobile (LCS-26) and the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) at Leslie Bank, a maritime feature located within Manila’s exclusive economic zone but claimed by Beijing under its extensive 10-dash line.
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The littoral combat ship and the ex-Coast Guard Hamilton-class cutter engaged in surface operations and communication exercises, adopting a patrol formation, as highlighted in a video released by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
The joint patrol aimed to showcase the robustness of the alliance between the Philippines and the United States while enhancing their combined capabilities in maritime operations to support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
This activity forms part of a broader series of maritime cooperative exercises initiated last year in response to rising tensions between the Philippines and China over disputed territories in the South China Sea.
These tensions have been particularly focused on resupply missions to a Marine outpost at Second Thomas Shoal. In 2022 and 2023, to express support for the Philippines, the idea for joint patrols involving international partners in the South China Sea and Luzon Strait was developed.
According to USNI News, since November 2023, the Philippines has engaged in ten bilateral and multilateral maritime and aerial patrols with nations such as Canada, Australia, Japan, and the US. This initiative also led to increased collaboration between Tokyo and Manila.
On April 7, Japan participated in a group sail in the West Philippine Sea alongside the Philippines, the United States, and Australia.
Additionally, on July 8, Manila and Tokyo signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which allows both countries to deploy military forces and equipment to each other’s territories for joint exercises.
Nonetheless, the joint exercise between the PN and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) took place exactly a month after diplomatic talks led to an agreement between the Philippines and China to de-escalate tensions in the West Philippine Sea.
France is also expected to join these efforts pending an agreement to enhance defense cooperation. Despite the initiation of joint patrols last fall, confrontations between Philippine and Chinese forces have persisted.
The China Coast Guard’s aggressive actions, including the use of water cannons, ramming incidents, and boarding attempts, peaked on June 17 during a resupply mission. This incident saw a joint patrol by Canadian, Japanese, Philippine, and US forces in the South China Sea.
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