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Japan, PH to stage first 'air-to-air' humanitarian and disaster relief training in Clark
Japan, PH to stage first 'air-to-air' humanitarian and disaster relief training in Clark
By Roy Mabasa
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and the Philippine Air Force will conduct the first air-to-air bilateral training on humanitarian and disaster relief on July 5 to 8, 2021 at Clark Air Base in Pampanga.
In a statement, the Japanese government said the first air-to-air training between the two air forces will mark a significant milestone for defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.
Due to their respective climate and topography, Japan and the Philippines are vulnerable to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons.
“Japan is proud to share with the PAF the JASDF’s experience and knowledge on delivery operations of relief goods to people in urgent need,” the Japanese government said in the statement.
As part of the exercise, the JASDF will deploy a training unit of Air Support Command – one C-130H cargo aircraft along with its personnel. The unit will have a four-day joint training session with their Philippine counterparts, aimed at strengthening interoperability for delivering relief goods to affected people in isolated areas in severe emergency situations. The training exercise will include load/offload training and simulated airdrop training.
Japan assured that the unit shall strictly observe all COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) health and safety guidelines and quarantine rules set by the Philippine Government particularly those of the Inter-Agency Task Force upon deployment.
“We are grateful and honored to visit the Philippines and to conduct the first Air-to-Air Bilateral Training on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief with the Philippine Air Force, especially this year, which marks the 65th anniversary of Friendship and the 10thanniversary of Strategic Partnership between our countries,” says unit commander Major MIZUNO Masaki of the JASDF ahead of the training exercise.
Mizuno noted that since Japan and the Philippines are both natural disaster-prone countries, “there (are) so much we can share on disaster relief operations for saving lives and alleviating the suffering of people in need.” He added that both sides aim to achieve a higher level of coordination and operative capabilities on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief through our training exercises.
Related to the training, Japan reiterated the importance of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific that is “inclusive and based on the rule of law, democratic values, territorial integrity, transparency, and peaceful resolution of disputes” even as it underscored its intention to work with the Philippines and other partner countries through a wide range of activities and cooperation for peace, stability, and prosperity in our regions and beyond.
In 2013, the JASDF assisted the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda). Japan’s Ministry of Defense and the Japan Self-Defense Forces deployed a total of 1,180 personnel, three vessels, and sixteen aircraft, of which seven were C-130H cargo aircraft for medical assistance and relief supply in affected areas.