3 Japan warships, US destroyer in Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Three Japanese warships, previously operating just within confines of Japan’s maritime domain, arrived in the country yesterday in what the Philippine Navy (PN) described as a goodwill visit.

The Japanese Maritime Self Defense (JMSDF) Minesweeper Division 51 – composed of JS Bungo (MST 464), JS Aishima (MSC 688) and JS Shishijima (MSC 691) – docked at Manila’s South Harbor a day after the arrival of USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), a guided-missile destroyer, for a routine port resupply mission.

The US embassy said the port call will allow the US ship’s crew of more than 300 sailors to rest and tour Metro Manila.

The gathering of the four foreign warships in the country came barely a week after China displayed its military might in a victory parade to highlight Japan’s defeat during World War II.

The presence of the Sugashima-class minesweepers and the US guided-missile destroyer also came amid the mounting regional tension spawned by China’s aggressive behavior in imposing its maritime and territorial claim to almost the entire South China Sea and the East China Sea.

Japan has started to loosen its military non-aggression restrictions in what observers described as a bold move, along with the other countries, to include the US to counter China’s military domination plan for the Asia-Pacific region.

PN spokesman Lt. Cmder. Lued Lincuna said the three Japanese warships will be in the country for three days and go on to visit other Southeast Asian countries.

“This goodwill visit will involve a series of confidence-building engagements,” Lincuna said.