ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH, Japan navies deepen cooperation on operational interoperability

PH, Japan navies deepen cooperation on operational interoperability

Published Nov 22, 2025 02:38 pm
Rear Adm. Joe Anthony C. Orbe (sitting, middle), commander of the Philippine Navy's Philippine Fleet (PN-PF), and his Japanese counterpart, Vice Admiral Katsushi Omachi (third from right), commander of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Japan Self-Defense Fleet (JMSDF-JSDF), pose for a photo with PF and JSDF officials, as well as defense and foreign attaches (DAFA) aboard the forecastle of JS Kumano on Nov. 20, 2022 in Yokosuka, Japan. (Photo: Philippine Navy)
Rear Adm. Joe Anthony C. Orbe (sitting, middle), commander of the Philippine Navy's Philippine Fleet (PN-PF), and his Japanese counterpart, Vice Admiral Katsushi Omachi (third from right), commander of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's Japan Self-Defense Fleet (JMSDF-JSDF), pose for a photo with PF and JSDF officials, as well as defense and foreign attaches (DAFA) aboard the forecastle of JS Kumano on Nov. 20, 2022 in Yokosuka, Japan. (Photo: Philippine Navy)
The Philippine Navy (PN) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) stepped up efforts to enhance their tactical coordination following the conclusion of a two-day visit by senior PN officials to Japan over the weekend.
Rear Adm. Joe Anthony C. Orbe, commander of PN’s Philippine Fleet (PF), led the delegation that met with Japanese counterpart Vice Admiral Katsushi Omachi, commander of JMSDF’s Japan Self-Defense Fleet (JSDF), in Yokosuka, Japan on Thursday, Nov. 20.
Orbe and Omachi noted the growing frequency of joint activities between their fleets and highlighted the importance of aligning training and capabilities for future operations, according to a statement from the PF.
Omachi briefed the PF delegation on the JSDF’s force structure and operational missions before hosting them aboard JS Kumano, one of Japan’s multi-role frigates.
Aboard the Japanese vessel, discussions between the PF delegation and JSDF personnel focused on strengthening collaboration in maritime exercises and coordinated responses to humanitarian and disaster scenarios.
On the following day, Orbe paid a courtesy call on Admiral Akira Saito, chief of staff of JMSDF, in Tokyo as the latter commended the PF delegation for the “expanding naval partnership” between the two countries.
“During the call, both naval leaders echoed the importance of strengthening cooperation between the two nations, and working closer together toward maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” the PF said.
The PF underscored that the visit was a practical step in implementing the recently signed Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Manila and Tokyo, which expands collaboration in defense exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR), logistics, and personnel exchanges.
The RAA, signed in 2023, provides a legal framework for the rotational presence of forces, joint exercises, and mutual logistical between the two nations, especially as both countries face shared security concerns due to China’s growing presence in the East and South China Seas.
The PF emphasized that ongoing ship visits and personnel exchanges with its Japanese counterpart are laying the groundwork for more robust interoperability amid evolving regional security challenges.

Related Tags

Philippine Navy Philippine Fleet Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force PH-Japan relations Reciprocal Access Agreement RAA
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.