Asia-Wide Campaign against U.S.-Japanese domination and aggression of Asia
AWC-Japan
[Statement]
Condemnation Statement on JPN-PHL Joint Military Exercise
AWC-Japan
May 13, 2015
The Japan Maritime Self Defense Forces, along with the Philippine Navy, held a joint military exercise on May 12, 2015 at the offshore of Zambales province, Philippine, which is located near the disputed Spratly islands. Two Japanese destroyers, named ‘Harusame’ and ‘Amagiri’, which carried 600 Japanese military personnel and the Philippines’ BPR Ramon Alcaraz joined this exercise. Before holding of this exercise or May 6, 2015 a joint drill had also been held by the coast guards of both countries. These clearly aim to contain China regarding the territorial dispute between Philippines and China over Spratly Islands.
We AWC-Japan condemn this exercise and drill because these just increase political and military tension in the region. We also strongly denounce the Japanese government and its military forces as their intervention to the territorial dispute among other countries through such kind of ways.
Recently, Japan and Philippines have rapidly developed their military cooperation. The governments of both countries signed the ‘Memorandum on Defense Cooperation and Exchanges’ on last January 2015, following their issue of the ‘Statement of Intent on Defense Cooperation and Exchanges’ on July 2012. Japanese SDF has joined the US-PHL Barikatan exercises several times since 2012. Japanese Maritime SDF also participated in the US-PHL navy exercise which was held near Palawan Island, Philippines on last October 2014.
These Japan's moves aim to expand its own military influence in the Asia-Pacific region including Southeast Asia where Japan keeps huge economic interests. At the same time, recent growing military cooperation between Japan and Philippines also aim to serve the US so-called ‘rebalance’ strategy toward the Asia-Pacific region, which aim to reinforce the US military presence in the region.
Again, we condemn the recent JPN-PHL joint military exercise, resisting rapidly developing Abe administration's maneuvers toward establishment of Japan as a ‘War State’. We also express our determination to junk the new security bills that Abe administration try to enact just now, opposing consolidation of the US-Japan military alliance.
###
For your reference:
Japan, Philippines hold historic naval drills