Japan to increase activities in South China Sea

An MK 45 5-inch lightweight gun is fired from the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile-destroyer USS Stethem in the South China Sea on July 26, 2016, during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, an annual maritime exercises involving assets from the US military and nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

CHINESE and Russian fleets sailed out of a port in Zhanjiang in south China’s Guangdong Province Thursday to predetermined waters for joint naval drill.

Indeed, the Times of India quotes the same spokesperson referenced by CNN explicitly stating that Chinese and Russian forces would practice “defense, rescue, and anti-submarine operations, in addition to joint-island seizing missions and other activities”.

Later Thursday, when asked by reporters whether “joint training cruises” with the US Navy would form part of US freedom of navigation operations, Inada responded negatively and said, “It does not mean that [Japan] will participate in freedom of navigation operations”.

Inada made the comments as China rejects the interference of non-claimant countries such as the United States and Japan in its territorial disputes with smaller neighbours in the South China Sea, such as the Philippines and Vietnam.

Joint Chinese-Russian drills have become increasingly common in recent years with this week’s exercises the fifth between the two navies since 2012.

The Japanese government will seek to enhance the maritime capabilities of coastal nations that have interests in the South China Sea, she said.

In May 2016, the US Navy sent a guided missile destroyer within 12 miles of a disputed island in the South China Sea, prompting China to dispatch fighter jets and warships to “expel” the American ship.

Russian news outlets said 18 ships, 21 aircraft and more than 250 marines from both sides would take part in the drills.