In a bold show of maritime solidarity, the coast guards of the Philippines, the United States, and Japan carried out joint rescue and crisis-response drills off Japan’s southwestern coast this week, against the dramatic backdrop of the smouldering Sakurajima volcano in Kagoshima.
The five-day training marks the second collaboration among the three nations’ coast guards—but the first time these exercises were hosted by Japan. The move follows growing alarm over China’s assertive actions in disputed waters across the East and South China Seas.
The drills included various emergency simulations: a dummy overboard rescue, a helicopter sea extraction, and a mock ship collision with fire suppression operations. Japan deployed its 6,000-ton Asanagi, the US sent the cutter Stratton, and the Philippines brought in the BRP Teresa Magbanua—a Japanese-donated vessel that usually patrols contested areas in the South China Sea.
These exercises reflect a growing regional alliance and a commitment to maritime security amid increasing Chinese pressure. Tensions spiked further as the Philippines accused China of blasting its boats with a water cannon near Scarborough Shoal—just hours before the joint drills wrapped up.
Despite a few areas for improvement, Japan Coast Guard official Naofumi Tsumura praised the exercise for boosting trust and operational coordination between the three countries. He emphasized that the teams now “know each other by face” and can work more effectively in real emergencies.
This training follows a firm joint statement from 2024, where all three nations criticized China’s “dangerous and coercive” maritime behavior and rejected any attempt to alter the status quo by force.