Japanese, U.S., and South Korean coast guard vessels conducted their first joint exercise on Thursday off Japan’s coast. This unprecedented three-way drill aims to strengthen maritime ties among the three nations in response to increased Chinese assertiveness in territorial disputes.
The joint exercise comes amid escalating skirmishes between Chinese and Philippine coast guard vessels in the South China Sea. These incidents have heightened fears of potential armed conflict involving China and the United States, a staunch ally of the Philippines.
The operation took place in waters off the northern coast of Maizuru in Kyoto Prefecture. The scenario involved rescuing crew members from a South Korean ship that caught fire following a collision. Patrol vessels from Japan, the U.S., and South Korea, along with two helicopters, participated in the search and rescue mission. This exercise was based on an agreement made by the leaders of the three countries last August to enhance security cooperation and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In recent years, Japan has bolstered its defenses, particularly in its southwestern regions, including Okinawa and its outer islands. These areas are considered strategically crucial in light of growing Chinese assertiveness and tensions surrounding Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory.
Last month, the coast guards of Japan, the U.S., and South Korea signed an agreement to collaborate on preserving maritime resources, countering illegal fishing, conducting search and rescue operations, and enhancing maritime law enforcement capabilities. This agreement laid the groundwork for the current joint drill.
During the drill, officers from each nation’s coast guard served as observers on the other nations’ ships to share best practices and learn from each other. This facilitated a deeper level of cooperation and interoperability among the crews.
Captain Tyson Scofield, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, emphasized the importance of the exercise, stating, “This joint search and rescue exercise with the Japan Coast Guard, Republic of Korea Coast Guard, and U.S. Coast Guard highlights the strong bond between our maritime nations. Increasing interoperability to assist mariners at sea highlights the strength of our maritime cooperation.”
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, part of Destroyer Squadron 15, participated in the exercise. Destroyer Squadron 15 is the largest squadron in the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet, regularly overseeing surface units operating in the area.
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