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| JS Ise (foreground) in formation with other Japanese Ships (Image: Wiki Commons) |
A Japanese warship sailed into a Philippine port near disputed South China Sea waters on Tuesday in another sign of deepening security ties between the World War II foes to counter Beijing.
Tensions in the South China Sea -- through which one-third of the world's oil passes -- have mounted in recent years since China transformed contested reefs into artificial islands capable of supporting military facilities.
The Japanese destroyer Ise docked in Subic Bay while on a "navigational training" mission, the ship's captain said.
It marked the second time in just over three weeks that Japanese naval vessels visited Subic, a former major US naval base that lies around 200 kilometres (125 miles) from a Chinese-controlled shoal.
"We want to deepen the relationship with the Philippines," Ise Captain Masaki Takada told reporters, who were given a tour of the vessel.
Read the full story at SpaceDaily