SOUTH CHINA SEA-PHILIPPINES/DRILLS Japanese plane circles over China-claimed region in South China Sea

Record ID: 152060

  • Title: SOUTH CHINA SEA-PHILIPPINES/DRILLS Japanese plane circles over China-claimed region in South China Sea
  • Date: 23rd June 2015
  • Summary: PALAWAN ISLAND, PHILIPPINES (JUNE 23, 2015) (REUTERS) CAMERAMEN FILMING JAPANESE NAVY'S P3-C ORION SURVEILLANCE PLANE MOVING ON TARMAC JAPANESE LOGO ON PLANE'S SIDE JAPANESE AND FILIPINO OFFICIALS SPEAKING VARIOUS OF SURVEILLANCE PLANE DESCENDING VARIOUS OF LANDING SIGNAL OFFICER DIRECTING PLANE JAPANESE PLANE LOGO PILOTS INSIDE COCKPIT SURVEILLANCE PLANE MOVING ON RUNWAY
  • Embargoed: 8th July 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA9SVKNC7FBMIRYTEMDTCEGFS1W
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A Japanese military patrol plane circled over disputed parts of the South China Sea on Tuesday (June 23) at the start of an exercise with the Philippine military that has irked China.
    According to Japanese and Philippine officials, the Japanese P3-C Orion surveillance plane, with three Filipino guest crew members, flew at 5,000 feet (1,524 m) above the edge of Reed Bank, an energy-rich area that is claimed by both China and the Philippines. It was accompanied by a smaller Philippine patrol aircraft.
    The disputed waters are close to the Spratly Islands, which the Philippines also claims, where China is building a series of man-made islands.
    "We went to the designated area and searched for 'lost ships' and 'missing aircraft' and reported our information to the aircraft of the Philippine navy -- this is the sort of exercise we conducted. Afterwards, we came back to Puerto Princesa airport at the Antonio Bautista Air Base and conducted three touch and go exercises in order for the pilots to familiarise themselves (with the facility). Today, the conditions were good and so was the weather, so we were able to hold a good training session," said Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Commander Hiromi Hamano, head of the Japanese navy contingent, after the P3-C returned to Palawan.
    Philippine Marine Colonel Jonas Lumawag told journalists that the drills, which were conducted 50 miles (80 km) to the west of Puerto Princesa airport in Palawan, will help with his country's maritime patrols and coordination.
    "Our personnel who went aboard the P3-C Orion observed how they do things, how they do and conduct procedures, and we basically tried to learn the techniques, tactics and procedures so that we re-align ourselves in the conduct of our own search and rescue in the maritime environment," he said.
    Japan's presence in what it considers international waters may be seen by Beijing as tacit support for ownership claims made by the Philippines.
    Japan worries that China's domination in a region through which much of its sea-borne trade passes would isolate it. Tokyo is also locked in a dispute with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea.
    China's official Xinhua news agency has already condemned the two-day search and rescue exercise as Japanese "meddling." China claims about 90 percent of the 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million sq mile) South China Sea, an area it denotes on maps with its so called nine-dash line.
    In Manila, dozens of leftwing activists protested outside the Japanese embassy in the Philippine capital on Tuesday, condemning the military exercises they deemed would further heighten tensions in the region.
    Activists carried placards and chanted nationalist slogans, urging Japan to keep out of the South China sea dispute.
    "We do not want Japan to meddle in our affairs, we do not want Japan to meddle in our dispute with china. Our experience under the Japan Imperial Army during World War Two shows us that Japan's interest is its own interest, it has its imperial interest, and we are afraid that with this increasing involvement with Japan in military actions in the Asia-Pacific region that we are returning to that era of Japanese militarism and expansionism." said Nation First chairperson Teddy Casino.
    The exercise by Japan and the Philippines comes as Manila conducts separate drills with the United States military that began last week.
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