Two Japanese destroyers dock at Port of Manila

Two warships from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) arrived Saturday at the Port of Manila as part of its deployment plan to promote security and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Philippine Navy welcomed the JS Ise, a Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer, and the JS Suzunami, Takanami-class destroyer. 

A highlight of the event was the disembarkation ceremony for naval officers from different countries who took part in the Ship Rider Cooperation Program.

In a statement on Saturday, the Japanese Embassy in the Philippines said the deployed JMSDF vessels are conducting joint training exercises with naval forces in the Indo-Pacific, including countries that regularly operate in the area.

"These engagements serve to enhance the tactical capabilities of the JMSDF, foster mutual understanding and trust among participating navies, and deepen multilateral defense cooperation," the statement read.

"Such initiatives reflect Japan's continued commitment to maintaining peace, stability, and a rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region," it added.

In July 2024, the Philippines and Japan signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which aims to heighten defense cooperation between the two nations amid tensions in the South China Sea.

Ahead of the signing, leaders of the Philippines, Japan, and the United States released a joint vision statement indicating the possibility of more combined naval training and exercises, with Manila set to receive support for its defense modernization priorities.

Japan has previously participated in multilateral maritime cooperative activities with the Philippines and other allied nations, events which have irked China as it asserts its claim over disputed waters, including the West Philippine Sea.

Just last weekend, the navies of the Philippines and Japan held their second bilateral maritime cooperative activity.

Stability, prosperity in Indo-Pacific

In a speech during the event, Rear Admiral Natsui Takashi, commander of the JMSDF Escort Flotilla Four, said the arrival was their third for this year.

"The vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific is to aim to facilitate free and robust economic activity throughout the Indo-Pacific and to realize the prosperity in the entire region," Natsui said.

"The Indo-Pacific region, including this Manila, is at the center of the world vitality, home to more than half of the world's population. Realizing the stable and autonomous development is crucial for the stability and prosperity in the region," he said.

Twenty naval and maritime police officers from 19 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Timor-Leste, and the Pacific Islands were invited on board the JS Ise for the Ship Rider Cooperation Program as the vessel traveled from Japan to Manila.

The Escort Flotilla Four departed from Japan on June 14 for a three-month deployment. — VDV, GMA Integrated News