US, Japan condemn China provocative activities in SCS

MANILA, Philippines —  US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba have condemned China for “provocative activities” in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

“The two leaders reaffirmed their strong opposition to the PRC’s unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea,” a joint statement on Friday said after Trump and Ishiba met in Washington, referring to China by the abbreviation of its
 official name.

In Manila, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it is looking forward to joint exercises with the coast guards of the US, Japan and Australia, similar to the sixth Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA) carried out with the naval forces of the three allies.

The recent MMCA saw the deployment of frigates and patrol ships, as well as fighter jets and search and rescue assets in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea.

The activity, which included drills and interoperability exercises, demonstrated “collective commitment to strengthen regional and international cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” according to Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr.

Asked if a similar exercise is being readied by the PCG with other nations, PCG Commodore Jay Tarriela said he is “hoping” for one as it would become an “opportunity to engage with our allies.”

Tarriela, PCG spokesman for WPS issues, recalled that the PCG and the coast guards of the US and Japan held a “trilateral maritime exercise” in 2023.

A statement from the Japanese embassy said the coast guard officers underwent “communication exercises, maneuvering drills, photo exercises, maritime law enforcement training, search and rescue and passing exercises” during the activity held in the first week of June 2023.

“We are hoping a trilateral maritime exercise will be carried out this year,” he said during an online media briefing on Friday.

Sought for comment on a statement by President Marcos on Thursday that the  country’s forces “don’t have the means” to drive away China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels, particularly the 165-meter “monster ship,” Tarriela said the Chief Executive’s statement could be just an appeal to concerned government officials, particularly lawmakers, to support the administration’s efforts to modernize the PCG.

He added the PCG’s 97-meter patrol ship BRP Teresa Magbanua, as well as other patrol vessels, were able to prevent CCG’s “monster ship” and other vessels from getting nearer to the coasts of Luzon.

“The mere fact that they were able to do it means we have the capability to do so. But despite the capability now, we still need much more modernization and acquisition for the PCG to become more capable,” Tarriela said. AFP