By Ankit Panda
Japan continues to be drawn toward the South China Sea.
Japan joined a U.S.-led maritime humanitarian exercise off the coast of the Philippines, near Subic Bay, for the first time ever. The move comes as tensions remain high between the Philippines and China over the latter’s island-building and construction activity on disputed features in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea. Additionally, the move comes as concerns grow in the United States about how Washington can best counter China’s moves in the South China Sea. Both Japan and the Philippines are treaty allies with the United States.
According to Reuters, a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Forces (MDSF) was in Subic Bay, the site of a former naval base, leading into the South China Sea. The Japanese vessel was involved in refueling “a U.S. Navy floating hospital en route to Vietnam for the seven-nation humanitarian mission.” The MSDF vessel’s participation comes just weeks after Japan flew a P3-C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft near disputed South China Sea features during a joint maritime exercise with the Philippines (the second-ever exercise between the two countries). Building on a defense pact between the two countries earlier this year, Japan and the Philippines held their first-ever joint naval exercises in the South China Sea in May.
Read the full story at The Diplomat