The Japan Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and Philippine Coast Guard are conducting their first trilateral joint training from June 16-20 around Japan (they held an exercise off the Philippines in 2003). Global Times reports that Japan’s Nikkei Shimbun said the exercises were aimed at addressing “increased Chinese activities” in the East China Sea and South China Sea, showcasing “solidarity among Japan, the U.S., and the Philippines.”
The Philippine Coast Guard stated that the objective of the exercises was “to highlight operational readiness, coordinated response and reinforce regional cooperation in addressing maritime challenges.” Nikkei Asia reported that the Philippine vessels participating in the exercises were funded and built by Japan for the Philippine Coast Guard, typically used to monitor Chinese vessels operating in the South China Sea.
Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, is quoted saying that “the deep purpose of these so-called joint exercises is to coordinate with the U.S. ‘Indo-Pacific strategy.’ Japan is now one of the most active countries in cooperating with the U.S. ‘Indo-Pacific strategy, often playing the role of ‘organizer’ to use maritime issues to try to restrict China.”
