Japan's Warship Arrives in Philippines to Balance China's Influence
16:31 26.04.2016(updated 16:59 26.04.2016)
A Japanese warship arrived in the Philippines on Tuesday, signaling the strengthening of cooperation between Tokyo and Manila and in an effort to balance Beijing's growing influence in the South China Sea, Japanese media reported.
TOKYO (Sputnik) – Japan's Ise helicopter carrier entered Subic Bay on the Philippine island of Luzon to show the growing level of cooperation between the two Asian nations and to balance Chinese military efforts in the region, according to The Tokyo Shimbun newspaper.
Ise, which has US officers as well as service personnel from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states aboard, is expected to leave the Philippines on Friday and head for Brunei and Singapore.
Earlier this month, two Japanese warships, accompanied by a submarine, visited Subic Bay.
China has a number of ongoing maritime disputes with other Asia-Pacific states, particularly territorial claims over a number of islands located in the South China Sea. In order to strengthen its positions, Beijing has initiated the construction of military infrastructure in the region. Among the most prominent regional disputes are the Paracel Islands controlled by Beijing, while being claimed by Taipei and Hanoi, and the Spratly Islands contested by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.
© Sputnik
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