Two ships from the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) have arrived in the Philippines as part of efforts between the two countries to promote deeper collaboration in its maritime activities, the Philippine Navy (PN) announced Saturday night, Nov. 13.
Helicopter carrier JS Kaga (DDH-184), a multi-purpose operation destroyer, and JS Murasame (DD-101), the lead ship of Japan’s Murasame-class guided-missile destroyers, docked at the Port of Subic in Zambales last Friday.
Commander Benjo Negranza, naval public affairs office, said the ships’ visit was part of the scheduled JMSDF Indo-Pacific Deployment port call and maritime cooperation activity with the PN.
“As part of the maritime cooperation activity, several non-contact goodwill exchanges will take place between the PN and the two visiting JMSDF ships,” Negranza said in a statement.
He said the Navy’s accommodation and support for the visiting Japanese ships despite the limitations brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic “is a gesture that contributes to the furtherance of both countries' stronger diplomatic relations and strategic partnership.”
Meanwhile, PN ships BRP Antonio Luna (FF151) and BRP Tarlac (LD601) departed Pier 13 in South Harbor, Manila on Saturday to participate in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s Joint Exercise (AJEX) “DAGIT-PA” off Western Visayas seawaters.
The AJEX “DAGIT-PA” is a joint exercise among Philippine Army, Philippine Navy, and Philippine Air Force to enhance their capabilities on interoperability operations.
The exercise is one of the major drills of the AFP that highlights its capabilities in maritime (dagat), air (langit), and land (lupa) operations.
More than 400 AFP personnel from Navy, Army, Air Force, and Naval Reserve Force embarked on BRP Antonio Luna, a missile-capable frigate, and BRP Tarlac, a landing dock vessel, to join the exercise.
Meanwhile, amphibious assault vehicles of the Philippine Marine Corps were also loaded into BRP Tarlac for the drills that will culminate on Nov. 18.