A Japan Coast Guard (JCG) training vessel arrived on Thursday, July 16, in Manila for a four-day port visit which the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) described as a move to strengthen cooperation and reaffirm maritime partnership between the two allied countries.
On board the training vessel Itsukushima are trainees of the JCG Academy who are on a training voyage this year as part of its practical experience in navigation, ship operations, leadership, maritime safety, and international engagement.
During the port visit, PCG Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said Ciast Guard personnel from both countries will participate in official calls, professional exchanges, facility and ship tours, on board activities, and sports engagements.
“This visit allows both coast guards to build on that cooperation through knowledge exchange and stronger people-to-people ties. The activities are intended to strengthen coordination and foster greater understanding between both coast guards,” Caybayab said.
“The visit also underscores the importance of sustained cooperation among regional coast guard and maritime law enforcement agencies, as ship riders from Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Philippines, and Singapore are participating in the voyage, providing a platform for stronger regional maritime partnerships,” she added.
The JCG training vessel, commanded by Captain Naoki Mizoguchi is on the final overseas leg of the JCG's Fiscal Year 2026 Global Ocean Training Voyage.
Japan and the Philippines, through their coast guards, have been making bold stand against China's aggressive muscle-flexing in the South China Sea using its nine-dash line claim that was already rejected by a UN Tribunal in a case filed and won by the Philippine government in 2016.