Japan-US-Philippines hold coast guard drills with eye on China
KAGOSHIMA, Japan — Japan’s coast guard will simulate a collision between vessels Friday during joint exercises with the United States and the Philippines seen as a show of unity against Chinese activity in disputed regional waters.
It is the second time the countries’ coast guards have held training drills together, following their first joint maritime exercise in the Philippines in 2023.
Friday’s simulation of a collision, fire and person overboard, which Agence France-Presse reporters will observe, caps a week of exercises off Japan’s southwest coast that began Monday.
Dozens of personnel are taking part in the drills that officials say are not targeted at any one nation — while using language often employed by Washington and its allies to indirectly refer to China.
Hiroaki Oda
