Philippines, Japan and U.S. Conduct Trilateral Naval Drills in South China Sea

Overview

• The Philippine military announced on Nov. 16 that it held a joint maritime exercise with Japan and the United States on Nov. 14–15 in the South China Sea.
• Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force took part with the escort ship Akebono and one patrol helicopter, according to the Philippine announcement.
• Units from the U.S. Pacific Fleet participated, alongside a U.S. aircraft carrier and a Philippine frigate, in anti-submarine warfare drills, communications checks and at-sea replenishment.
• Manila described the activity, titled “海上協同活動,” as part of efforts to deepen defense cooperation with friendly countries.
• Regional coverage citing a Kyodo dispatch carried the announcement, and several articles limited fuller operational details to subscribers; China separately said a bomber formation patrolled the area on Nov. 14 and criticized the exercise.