PH Navy, Japan holds anti-submarine drills in West Philippine Sea 

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At least one Chinese Navy ship enters the exercise box of the June 14 maritime exercise between the JS Takanami and the BRP Miguel Malvar

ABOARD THE BRP MIGUEL MALVAR – The Philippine Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) held anti-submarine and cross-deck landing drills in the West Philippine Sea on Saturday, June 14, as the two nations prepare to finally operationalize an agreement that makes it easier for defense forces of either nation to train or operate in each others’ territory. 

The Philippines deployed its newest and most modern navy vessel, the BRP Miguel Malvar, to join the JMSDF’s JS Takanami for the exercise. Air assets of the two navies also joined the exercise, which the Philippines and its defense partners call a Maritime Cooperative Activity or MCA.  

The June 14 drills happened in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone 

The Malvar, the first of two guided missile frigates from South Korea, joined the Takanami in an anti-submarine drills to kick off the Saturday MCA. The Takanami dropped an expandable mobile anti-submarine warfare training target or EMATT, which is meant to simulate a submarine. After detecting the EMATT, the Takanami and Malvar then took turns hitting the target through a simulated torpedo attack.

Another Philippine Navy asset, an Augusta Westland 159 multipurpose chopper, also performed a cross-deck exercise, flying out of the Malvar and landing on the Takanami twice. The two ships then engaged in a formation exercise before its crew bid each other goodbye through a salute. The theme of the popular Japanese anime Gundam blared from the Malvar’s speakers and the JS Takanami sailed just 200 yards from her portside. 

DEFENSE PARTNERS. The Philippine Navy’s AW159 Wildcat helicopter lands on the JS Takanami during a cross-deck exercise on June 14 for the 2nd Maritime Cooperative Activity between the Philippines and Japan in the West Philippine Sea. Photo by Bea Cupin/Rappler

This is the second MCA between the Philippines and Japan. The JMSDF has also participated in the multilateral version of the MCA, the Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MMCA), also in the West Philippine Sea. 

The increase in bilateral or multilateral activities between the Philippines and its defense partners and allies in the West Philippine Sea comes as China grows more aggressive in asserting its claims and supposed entitlements in waters that are part of the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. 

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, including the West Philippine Sea. For the Philippines, this has meant harassment from China in the form of dangerous maneuvers, ramming, and the use of water cannons against both government vessels and the much smaller fishing boats of Filipino fisherfolk. For the Navy, China’s claims in the West Philippine Sea has resulted in the occasional close encounter with its People’s Liberation Army-Navy (PLAN) vessels. 

At least one Chinese Navy vessel was seen during the exercise with Japan — a PLAN vessel with bow number 659 apparently tailed the Takanami as it entered the exercise box for the June 14 drills. It remained visible to the naked eye in the morning, which meant it sailed and loitered in waters within the exercise box for the MCA. 

Manila has been eyeing closer ties with existing defense and security partners, and the expansion of its network of so-called like-minded countries, partly as a result of China’s aggression. 

In 2024, it signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan just months after negotiations started. The measure has been approved by the Philippine Senate and Japan’s Diet. 

Once operationalized, it will be easier for both Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces in the Philippines to enter each others’ territory for military exercises, humanitarian response, or even defense reasons. – Rappler.com