The coast guards of the United States, Japan, and the Philippines conducted their first ever trilateral exercises in the South China Sea to strengthen defense cooperation amid China’s growing assertiveness.
Around 400 coast guard personnel from the three nations participated in the week-long Kaagapay maritime exercise, which began on June 1 in the Philippine waters off Bataan province, GMA News reported.
The Philippines Coast Guard (PCG) deployed four vessels to take part in the trilateral exercise, while the U.S. and Japanese coast guards deployed two ships—the USCG Cutter Stratton and Akitsushima.
“This first trilateral engagement between the coast guards of these nations will provide invaluable opportunities to strengthen global maritime governance through professional exchanges and combined operations,” Stratton’s commanding officer Capt. Brian Krautler said in a statement….