US, Australia And Japan Plan To Send Ships To The Philippines For Training

MANILA - Japan, the United States, and Australia are considering sending their aircraft carriers to the Philippines for a trilateral naval exercise next week in the South China Sea, sources said.

The drill, which is planned to take place on Wednesday next week, comes amid rising tensions between Beijing and Manila after a Chinese coast guard ship earlier this month fired water cannons at a Philippine military chartered ship near the Second Thomas Shoal, controlled by Manila in the South China Sea.

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Forces have decided to send its largest destroyer, Izumo, which will become the de facto aircraft carrier after undergoing additional renovations scheduled to begin next year or 2025, according to the source.

Reported by ANTARA, Friday, August 18, the Australian Navy will deploy the amphibious assault ship Canberra, while the US Navy is expected to send an American amphibious assault ship, the source said.

The joint exercise is planned to include aircraft takeoff and landing exercises using the three-ship decks of the country's three ships.

The exercise was carried out to demonstrate the commitment of the United States and its allies in enforcing freedom of navigation, according to the source.

Izumo plans to dock next Friday in Manila, the source said.

Philippine troops have canceled their participation in the joint exercise as the other three countries' aircraft are too large to land on the deck of the Philippine warship, according to the source.

However, commanders of the four countries could gather in the Philippine capital to send "strong messages", the source said.

The four countries have considered joint maritime patrols and naval exercises, but the plan failed to reach an agreement, according to the source.

Facing increasing military pressure and Beijing activity in the South China Sea, Manila has so far focused on increasing security cooperation with Tokyo, Washington, and Canberra.

Japan, the United States, Australia, and the Philippines previously held their first defense minister meeting in June in Singapore. The four sides agreed to strengthen security cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

China, which claims almost the entire region in the South China Sea, has built artificial islands with military infrastructure.

Tensions between Beijing and Manila escalated as China's coast guard in February directed a military laser to a Philippine patrol boat in waters near Second Thomas Shoal.