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Daily Express
16 hours ago
- General
- Daily Express
Japan-US-Philippines coast guards simulate crisis amid China threat
Published on: Sunday, June 22, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 22, 2025 Text Size: Members of the Japan Coast Guard prepare to toss a dummy into the sea for a rescue operation simulation during a maritime exercise with the Philippine Coast Guard ship 'Teresa Magbanua', the United States Coast Guard ship 'Cutter Stratton' and the Japan Coast Guard ship 'Asanagi' in the waters around the southern city of Kagoshima, Kagoshima prefecture. Japan: Helicopters buzzed in the shadow of a smouldering volcano and boats rescued dummies from the sea this week in a show of maritime unity by Japan, the United States and the Philippines. The joint coast guard exercises held off Japan's southwest shore follow a warning from the three countries about Chinese activity in disputed regional waters. Tensions between China and other claimants to parts of the East and South China Seas have pushed Japan to deepen ties with the Philippines and the United States. This week marked the second time the countries' coast guards have held training drills together, and the first in Japan. They took place over five days off the coast of Kagoshima, where Sakurajima volcano dominates the skyline, quietly puffing out smoke and ash. Dozens of personnel took part, with Friday's final exercises featuring one vessel from each of the three countries' coast guards. Advertisement They included the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which was provided to the Philippines by Japan through a loan agreement. The 2,265-ton vessel, named after a schoolteacher and revolutionary, usually monitors Chinese boats in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested waters, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels in the East China Sea also routinely face off around disputed islands. On Friday, Manila accused China of using a water cannon on two of its fisheries department boats as they attempted to resupply Philippine fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. The US Coast Guard was represented in the exercises by the cutter Stratton, which can carry up to 170 personnel, and Japan by the 6,000-ton Asanagi. Friday's drills began with a simulation of a person falling overboard. Once the dummy, wearing a bright red lifejacket, was in the water, a US drone was launched from the Stratton, circling high above as it scanned the area. A small Philippine rescue boat then emerged from the Teresa Magbanua, zipping across the water before coast guard personnel fished the dummy out of the water. Other rescue scenarios enacted included a Japanese helicopter racing from shore to pull a human subject from the sea. The helicopter's rotor blades whipped up the calm blue waters, where the occasional small hammerhead shark could be seen idly swimming alongside the Asanagi. The exercises concluded with a simulated collision and fire, with all three coast guards blasting the stricken vessel with their water cannons. Japan Coast Guard official Naofumi Tsumura said the joint exercises had 'built mutual understanding and trust'. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Japan-US-Philippines coast guards simulate crisis amid China threat
(From left) The US Coast Guard ship 'Cutter Stratton', Japan Coast Guard ship 'Asanagi' and Philippine Coast Guard ship 'Teresa Magbanua' in formation during maritime exercises in the waters around the southern Japanese city of Kagoshima. PHOTO: AFP On board the Asanagi, Japan - Helicopters buzzed in the shadow of a smouldering volcano and boats rescued dummies from the sea this week in a show of maritime unity by Japan, the United States and the Philippines. The joint coast guard exercises held off Japan's south-west shore follow a warning from the three countries about Chinese activity in disputed regional waters. Tensions between China and other claimants to parts of the East and South China Seas have pushed Japan to deepen ties with the Philippines and the United States. This week marked the second time the countries' coast guards have held training drills together, and the first in Japan. They took place over five days off the coast of Kagoshima, where Sakurajima volcano dominates the skyline, quietly puffing out smoke and ash. Dozens of personnel took part, with the June 20 final exercises featuring one vessel from each of the three countries' coast guards. They included the BRP Teresa Magbanua, which was provided to the Philippines by Japan through a loan agreement. The 2,265-ton vessel, named after a schoolteacher and revolutionary, usually monitors Chinese boats in the South China Sea. China and the Philippines have engaged in months of confrontations in the contested waters, which Beijing claims almost entirely, despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Chinese and Japanese patrol vessels in the East China Sea also routinely face off around disputed islands. On June 20, Manila accused China of using a water cannon on two of its fisheries department boats as they attempted to resupply Philippine fishermen near the disputed Scarborough Shoal. Man overboard! The US Coast Guard was represented in the exercises by the cutter Stratton, which can carry up to 170 personnel, and Japan by the 6,000-ton Asanagi. The June 20 drills began with a simulation of a person falling overboard. Once the dummy, wearing a bright red lifejacket, was in the water, a US drone was launched from the Stratton, circling high above as it scanned the area. A small Philippine rescue boat then emerged from the Teresa Magbanua, zipping across the water before coast guard personnel fished the dummy out of the water. Other rescue scenarios enacted included a Japanese helicopter racing from shore to pull a human subject from the sea. The helicopter's rotor blades whipped up the calm blue waters, where the occasional small hammerhead shark could be seen idly swimming alongside the Asanagi. The exercises concluded with a simulated collision and fire, with all three coast guards blasting the stricken vessel with their water cannons. Trust-building Japan Coast Guard official Naofumi Tsumura said the joint exercises had 'built mutual understanding and trust'. 'More than anything, we have strengthened coordination and cooperation between us,' he said. In 2024, the three countries issued a joint statement that included strong language aimed at Beijing. 'We express our serious concerns about the People's Republic of China's (PRC) dangerous and aggressive behavior in the South China Sea,' it said, describing 'dangerous and coercive use of Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels'. They also expressed 'strong opposition to any attempts by the PRC to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion in the East China Sea'. This week's joint exercises were the first since the statement was released. Tsumura said there were small details that could have worked better and vowed to improve in future collaborations. He said the three countries' coast guards had 'come to understand each other better, or as the Japanese often say, to know each other by face'. 'I believe we are now able to conduct maritime rescue operations more effectively,' he said. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
GMA Network
6 days ago
- General
- GMA Network
Why PH soldiers exercise restraint amid China aggression in WPS
Like some primeval beast, the Chinese Jiangkai Class frigate emerged from the curtain of rain and haze, its gray paint making it hard to spot under the overcast sky. As if one cue, two Chinese militia ships with their outstretched booms also showed themselves, spread several nautical miles apart. A radio challenge was quickly issued by the crew of the BRP Andres Bonifacio demanding the Chinese warship's intention within the Philippine EEZ. It took several minutes for the Chinese warship to give an answer. The Chinese replied in halting English, mirroring the Philippines radio challenge and asserting its right over that part of the sea. After several exchanges over the radio, the Chinese ships fell into radio silence, and lingered several nautical miles from the Philippine ship. The BRP Andres Bonifacio conducts ship to shore operations in the Kalayaan Island Group./CHINO GASTON, GMA Integrated News The Bonifacio's commanding officer said the Chinese frigate came as close as 4.2 nautical miles from the ship. The ship's sensors had detected the presence of the Chinese vessels even before they were visible to the naked eye. In fact, several other ships appeared on the radar screen, showing the range of the ship's sensors. The AFP reveals that during the standoff between the Philippine Coast Guard's BRP Teresa Magbanua and the Chinese Coast Guard in Sabina Shoal early this year, the BRP Andres Bonifacio was closely shadowed by another frigate of the the Chinese Navy in violation of safety protocols for navigation at sea. The Bonifacio had been dispatched then, to aid the Magbanua which had stayed near Sabina Shoal for over a month to verify information that the Chinese were planning to start reclamation, some 120 nautical miles off the coast of Palawan. The Magbanua was eventually forced to return to port after running out of supply of drinking water. But the tightrope act between fulfilling the military duties and preventing an all out conflict is not confined to encounters among warships in the Philippine EEZ. The Philippine Naval Special Operations Unit 4 among which includes the Philippine Navy SEALs, provide security and rubber boat operations during the Rotation and Resupply Missions throughout the KIG. While trained to kill in operations over land air and sea, the SEALs face a different challenge when faced with the Chinese. SEAL Team member Zaldy, not his real name, admits feeling angry when the Chinese start harassing them whenever they bring supplies to their fellow soldiers, like those onboard the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. However, he said the mission remains the top priority regardless of how one feels. "Normal lang na makadama ng galit. Pero sinusunod lang namin ang utos sa amin at inaalala na kapag kami'y lumaban, may mas malaking epekto nito sa Pilipinas." (It's normal to feel angry. But we just follow orders and remember that if we fight back, it would have a bigger impact on the Philippines.) Philippine Marines being transported by Philippine Navy SEALs for deployment to the occupied features in the KIG./CHINO GASTON, GMA Integrated News Philippine Marines being transported by Philippine Navy SEALs for deployment to the occupied features in the KIG./CHNO GASTON, GMA Integrated News Despite the superiority and sheer number of Chinese assets throughout the KIG, Zaldy said they find ways to fulfill their mission based on the parameters given by higher headquarters. "Iwas lang kami sa kanila, hahanap kami (ng) paraan para magawa pa rin yung mission, nasa amin na yun magpigil," he said. (We just avoid them and find ways to continue with our mission. It is up to us to restrain ourselves.) No other incident demonstrates the resolve and restraint of the Navy SEALs than the June 17, 2024 Ayungin incident when Chinese Coast Guard Personnel damaged the rubber boats and equipment of the Philippine Navy, and where a member of the Navy SEALs lost a thumb. Armed Forces spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla explains that while some people may be wondering why one of the most lethal military units of the armed forces refused to defend themselves at Ayungin, the reality is far more complicated than simply drawing a gun and engaging the enemy. "These are trained, highly skilled personnel so for all intents and purposes they can very likely kill an opponent kasi yan ang training nila eh. Actually they are meant to do that, that is their skillset na nadevelop nila. But the greatest act of courage they have shown is that they held their ground not to escalate tension during that time," she said. However, this does not mean that Filipino soldiers in the KIG will always be turning the other cheek when faced by unlawful aggression from the Chinese. Padilla clarifies that there are limits to restraint. "May mga (There are) red lines. And identified yan ng mga ground commanders and 'yan din magiging briefing nila sa mga tropa for any deployment. They could have but they did not (engage)," she said. Philippine Marines scan the sea for any intruders while on duty at Likas Island./CHINO GASTON, GMA Integrated News The AFP had previously stated that Filipino soldiers and sailors guarding the features and patrolling the West Philippine Sea can only actively engage in combat under the principle of self-defense. While these red lines remain clear to the AFP, the question that begs to be answered is whether the Chinese are willing or may inadvertently cross the point of no return in its ever increasing acts of aggression against Philippine ships and fishermen. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
15-06-2025
- General
- GMA Network
PCG joins trilateral maritime exercise in Japan
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) officers and crew of BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV 9701) pose with officers of the Japan Coast Guard in Kagoshima, Japan on June 13, 2025. Photo: Philippine Coast Guard The Coast Guards of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States last week took part in the Trilateral Maritime Exercise in Kagoshima, Japan. In Christian Maño's Sunday report on Super Radyo DzBB, the crew of BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV 9701) engaged in activities such as the small board operation exercise and joint search and rescue drill. These activities aim to strengthen the interoperability of the three countries, particularly operational readiness, coordinated response, and regional cooperation in different maritime challenges. According to the PCG, the country's participation aims to strengthen regional maritime cooperation and the reinforcement of diplomatic ties with the coast guards of other countries. This includes the rules-based international order and collective capacity building that supports regional peace and stability. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
03-06-2025
- General
- GMA Network
PH, US, Japan coast guards to join exercise in Kagoshima from June 16 to 20
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on said Tuesday that BRP Teresa Magbanua will join the second trilateral maritime exercise with the United States and Japan off Kagoshima City waters from June 16 to 20. In a statement, the PCG said a send-off ceremony for BRP Teresa Magbanua will be held at Pier 13, Port Area, Manila on Wednesday. 'The 97-meter Coast Guard vessel is expected to arrive at Kagoshima Port on 12 June 2025,' the PCG said. 'It will undergo a three-day maintenance and repair, followed by the reception ceremony for BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9071) and USCG cutter Stratton (WMSL-752) on 16 June 2025,' the PCG added. The PCG, US Coast Guard (USCG), and Japan Coast Guard (JCG) will participate in facility tours, mutual visits to patrol vessels, maritime exercise meetings, and capacity-building exercises. According to the PCG, the USCG and JCG helped in improving the skills and expertise of Filipino personnel through different human resource development programs. The activity is expected to result in a stronger collaboration and deeper diplomatic relations between the three coast guards, according to the PCG. Aside from this, the PCG is also looking forward to exploration of more avenues for maritime cooperation towards a rules-based order after the trilateral maritime exercise. The PCG said these efforts are anchored on President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s directive to engage in capacity-building initiatives that promote cooperation, understanding, and mutual trust among counterparts. — Joviland Rita/RSJ, GMA Integrated News
