Japan and the Philippines planned to hold a joint maritime drill from June 23 to 24 in the South China Sea, a move apparently aims at paving way for the two sides to further disturb stability in the region, local media reported Monday.
Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) will dispatch a P-3C surveillance aircraft to the drill, while the Filipino navy will send a vessel and a plane to the high sea southwest of Manila, Japan’s public broadcaster NHK cited the Japanese Defense Ministry as reporting.
The ministry said the upcoming drill is the”first formal” joint drill between the two countries, despite the one held last month, according to the report.
MANILA BULLETIN
