MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' navy chief said Sunday it would hold a joint exercise with Japan in the South China Sea, but emphasized the collaboration was unrelated to China's land reclamation efforts in the disputed waters.
Two warships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) will take part in the exercise with a single Philippine ship after making a port call in the Philippines this month, said Vice Adm. Jesus Millan.
"This is a port call, a regular port call of the Japanese navy and while they are here, it would be good if we can practice this code of unplanned encounters at sea," he said.
The exercise will take place just outside the former US naval base of Subic, off the archipelago's west coast, he added.
The Japanese vessels would be leaving Subic while a Philippine ship was heading there under the training scenario, he said.
Millan said Japanese and Philippine sailors would have an opportunity to "compare notes" during the exercise, but stressed it had nothing to do with the Philippines' territorial dispute with China over conflicting claims to large parts of the sea.
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