US, Philippine Marine Corps Start Drills, Joined by Japan, S.Korea
Marines of the United States and the Philippines have started joint drills. Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force and, for the first time, South Korean Marines are also taking part.
The acting chief of the Philippine Navy, Rear Admiral Caesar Bernard Valencia, spoke to representatives of the nations in Manila at the start of the 12-day exercise on Monday.
He expressed hope that they can work together to protect the values of freedom, democracy and rule-based order to weather the rapidly changing security environment.
Personnel will conduct landing exercises aimed at recapturing islands and check ways to respond to nuclear and chemical weapons.
From Japan, an amphibious rapid deployment brigade is taking part.
Miyamoto Shinsuke of the Ground Self-Defense Force stressed the importance of conducting an exercise with the South Korean military.
He said the GSDF wants to contribute to the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Last Friday, Japan, the US and South Korea conducted their first joint exercise in the Sea of Japan since December 2017.
The latest drills are believed to be aimed at stressing their cooperation as China steps up its activities in the South China Sea.
