Japan’s flagship helicopter carrier JS Izumo and destroyer JS Samidare are in Manila after participating in the quadrilateral exercise with the United States, Australia, and the Philippines.
According to JS Izumo Exec. Officer Commander Shirasaka Naoki, the JS Izumo arrived in Manila on August 25, Friday and is set to leave on August 31, 2023.
The two warships, deployed under the five-month Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023 (IPD23), will return to Japan in September.
“During the deployment, we will be visiting other countries to strengthen relationships with other navies in the region," Shirasaka added.
On August 24, the JS Izumo and JS Samidare, together with USS Mobile, HMAS Canberra, HMAS Anzac, Royal Australian Air Force F-35 A and Philippine Navy vessel BRP Davao Del Sur conducted maritime exercises in the “territorial water in the Philippines” to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
In a press statement, the Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF) said the exercises are expected to improve its tactical capabilities and strengthen relationships with other participating navies.
In a reception aboard JS Izumo, Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa said, “In line with our shared goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific, I strongly believe that we, as like-minded nations, can work together and deepen our ties to safeguard the freedom of navigation at the seas and uphold a rule-based maritime order in the region.”
The Japanese envoy also reiterated that peace and international order cannot be maintained if military superpowers ignore international law and try to achieve their own claims by force.
“Disputes between states must be settled peacefully through international law and the arbitration procedures established thereunder, even if the outcome of the arbitration is unfavorable to the major powers,” Kazuhiko added.
Earlier this June, the first ever Defense Ministerial Meeting was held in Singapore, which resulted in defense and maritime cooperation of navies from Japan, US, Australia and Philippines to conduct maritime exercises in the South China Sea.
As of Sunday, also docked in Manila are the US Navy vessel USS America and HMAS Canberra of Australia.
