A senior US military official on Tuesday underscored the need for the Philippines, the United States and Japan to closely work together, particularly on defense and security aspects to ensure that peace and stability in region is preserved.
US 7th Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Joseph Aucoin made the statement in a “trilateral cooperation” meeting among Philippine Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force held aboard USS Blue Ridge in Manila.
“The peace and stability in this region really depends on the unified efforts of our countries,” Aucoin said.
Leaders from each country voiced out their respective concerns relating to the tensions in the South China Sea and the impact on collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
Aucoin commended participants in the meeting saying “This really is a tangible example of the unified commitment of our countries to the stability and security of this region.”
The USS Blue Ridge arrived in Manila on March 4 for a scheduled port call while the US John Stennis Strike Group composed of three destroyers and a cruiser were on patrol in the disputed West Philippine Sea.
On March 2, Japan’s Minesweeper Division 51 also berthed in Manila for a three-day visit followed by the signing of a defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines.
Japan’s Navy delegation is headed by Capt. Toshiro Takaiwa, is composed of two the Japanese Ship (JS) Uraga (Minesweeper Tender 463) and JS Takashima (Minesweeper Tender 603).
The USS Blue Ridge who is expected to depart Manila on Wednesday, the Stennis strike group winded-up its six-day freedom patrol in the South China Sea and transited into the Philippine Sea through the Luzon Strait.
The strike group monitored the presence of China’s People’s Liberation Army (Navy) ships in the vicinity of Stennis while on patrol in the South China Sea, but both navies interacted in “bridge-to-bridge” between sailors were professional.
“Based on the bridge-to-bridge communications USS Chung-Hoon had with the PLA[N] ships, it is clear that the Chinese Navy prides itself on professional communications and interactions,” said Commander Tom Ogden, commanding officer of USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93).
Chung Hoon was one of the two destroyers in the service of the Stennis strike group.
Rear Admiral Ronald Boxall, the strike group’s commander said he was not surprised by the interests of other countries in the strike group.
“We’re exercising our right to operate in international waters. Our presence here promotes peace and stability in the region,” Roxall said.