Navy ships of four countries wary of China’s growing military are conducting maritime exercises while passing through the South China Sea (locally referred to as West Philippine Sea), an area which is almost entirely claimed by China.

Capt. Jonathan Zata, spokesman of the Philippine Navy, said that the decision to conduct maritime exercises came up during the discussion of commanders of the six navy ships of the United States, India, Japan and the Philippines.

It was recalled that the navy ships of the four countries had just gone from South Korea where they participated in the first phase of the ASEAN-Plus Defense Ministers’ Meeting Maritime Security Field Training Exercise (ADMM-Plus MARSEC FTX) 2019.

“This combined transit exercise aimed to deepen the partnership and foster mutual understanding between participant countries. As with other naval exercises, this activity is expected to validate the decades of friendship, partnership and cooperative engagement that has been long established and observed between the Philippines, US, Japan and India,” said Zata.

Capt. Roy Vincent Trinidad, who leads the Philippine Navy delegation for the ADMM-Plus maritime exercise, said the ships include the Philippines’ BRP Andres Bonifacio; Japan Maritime Self Defense Force vessels’ JS Izumo (DDH-183) and JS Murasame (DD-101); Indian Navy Ships, INS Kolkata (D63) and Shakti (A57); and, the United States Pacific Fleet vessel, USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110).

“The group sail showed the active participation of the Philippine Navy as it strengthens its relationships with allies and partners in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Trinidad.
“This gives us another opportunity to learn from like-minded navies,” he added.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/05/09/ph-us-india-japan-war-ships-passing-through-south-china-sea/